If it wasn't 74, it still wasn't pretty. Australia's batsmen were again exposed by the moving ball in the hands of Sri Lanka's seamers before the fourth ODI at the SCG was washed out.

The Sri Lankan chase was at first delayed, then abandoned due to an outfield tardy in drying, after only 3.2 overs. At 0 for 14, the visitors stood a strong chance of overhauling the target and claiming the series.

As it is, Australia are left with a feeling as unsatisfying as that experienced by the 22,521 spectators who were informed of the abandonment around 9pm local time. There are plenty of recurring questions about the hosts' batting and they can no longer win the series themselves, their best hope a 2-2 tie after the final match in Hobart on Friday.

Taking strike under overcast skies at the SCG after Michael Clarke won the toss, the Australians were confounded once more by the swing of Nuwan Kulasekara and a fast, swerving spell from Lasith Malinga. Rangana Herath wheeled away in a typically fastidious stint of slow left-arm.

Kulasekara's 3 for 30 was another immaculate display of swing at a shade sharper than medium pace, giving him a series return of 10 wickets at 12.90 thus far. It would take a particularly unobservant English seamer not to notice those numbers ahead of the Ashes.

Of the batsmen only David Warner looked secure at the crease, though Mitchell Starc won the admiration of the SCG for a doughty rearguard. Australia's struggles were heightened by a pair of poor decisions from the umpires Marais Erasmus and Paul Reiffel after Clarke had burned his team's sole DRS referral with a wishful request to overturn his own lbw verdict.

Needing to win the match to avoid a series defeat in four matches, Clarke named a team unchanged from the XI who were reduced to a humiliating 9 for 40 in Brisbane on Friday. Kulasekara had rended Australia's batting at the Gabba, and he was to make critical breakthroughs again in Sydney. First he drifted a ball across Phillip Hughes, opening up the left-hander and coaxing an edge through to Chandimal, who took the gloves while Kushal Perera remained in the XI as a batsman.

Clarke and Warner prospered for a time, Sri Lanka wasting their one review on an optimistic lbw appeal against the latter, but the ball continued to curve and at 50, the captain played around a delivery that moved into him and was pinned in front of the stumps. His attempt to have the call overturned showed only that the ball had struck him in line and would have plucked middle stump.

A twitchy David Hussey was set up and knocked down by Malinga, who pushed the batsman back with a series of well-directed short balls then conjured an away swinger that found the edge and was held on the juggle by Lahiru Thirimanne in the slips. Hussey's No. 4 post in the batting order appeared a position or two higher than his technique can presently stand.

Bailey played down the line at similar deliveries bending away late and, after struggling to score early, started to form a useful stand with Warner, who played with calm, precision and power throughout. However, Herath teased out a presumptuous drive by Bailey, leaving Warner the hosts' only hope of a decent tally.

This was a strong innings by Warner, who punched a pair of superb cover drives through Herath's neatly set fields. But on 60, he played Thisara Perera from the crease and was struck on the pads via an inside edge which was both audible and visible. This deflection somehow evaded Erasmus' detection, and Warner could barely contain his fury when marching off the ground.

The New South Wales allrounder Moises Henriques was similarly wronged by Reiffel when Herath won an LBW verdict from a ball pitching in line and straightening but also taking bat before pad, leaving Clarke and the rest of the dressing room to ponder the use of their one ODI referral in future.

Starc and Matthew Wade resisted in the latter overs, but their efforts succeeded only in lifting Australia from the embarrassing to the merely mediocre - hardly the bar Clarke's team had been striving to reach after their Brisbane misadventures. The rain offered plenty of time to ponder their shortcomings.

The thing is, Daniel Brettig, that we (that includes you) only got to see one side bat. We have no idea how difficult the Sri Lankans may have found it had they been batting. In fact, if you took out two of the Lankan batters with poor umpiring decisions, they might have fared considerably worse than what Australia did. This is a poor article lacking in perspective.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 21, 2013, 21:52 GMT

Trav696 - Yes I do the 50 over game they use two new balls and the ball is new a lot longer. Do you know what quality batting is? Dilshan has been a spud all tour, looks like getting out every ball. Perera looks promising but two games with a high score of 22 you couldnt use the word great. Chandimal been out injured for a coule of games and blunts your momentum and Thiriman e due a failure. You cant rely on Angelo Matthews to get a run. Yes at 220 Australia was in the box seat, the D/L would have worked to make it heaps easier for Sri Lanka so if you think about it, it would have been a hollow victory. If the show was on the other foot and they played we would be greeted with outrage from the Sri Lankan fans.

POSTED BY
on | January 21, 2013, 19:22 GMT

I'll be damed if Australia wins the 5th one and it turns out to be a 2-2 pointless tie

POSTED BY
trav696
on | January 21, 2013, 12:57 GMT

@OneEyedAussie, haha, they sprinted off because they used their heads. Aus won the toss and batted first, but SL was always going to bowl first thinking about getting the D/L method to come their way when batting. When the opportunity arised, the went off to field in the hope of actually coming back on. They couldn't see either... the drizzle was distracting them. Mate, even if it didn't rain, we would have chased 200 down. SL wouldn't have had to do anything reckless, so they would have kept wickets in tact and won in the end. Aus put on an act in the end anyway saying that they wanted to come back on and 'defend' that total. Clarke knew and deep down, his team knew they couldn't defend it. Hope SL don't give Aus a chance in the 5th and seal the series 3-1, giving them a victory they were robbed of in the 4th.

POSTED BY
trav696
on | January 21, 2013, 12:42 GMT

@Shaggy076, firstly, do you know the difference between a five day match consisting of roughly 90 overs per day and a ODI with 50 overs for each side?? The test series has nothing to do with the ODI series. Sri Lanka's line up is much better in the ODI's and we are a far better side in the shorter format. The shorter the format, the better the game goes. Because of the D/L method, it would have turned out to be a T20, only needing 6 runs per over or less. SL are ranked No.1 in T20 by a mile, and you mean to say with TEN wickets in the shed, we can't chase down about 120, no make it 130 as you say. Dilshan, Chandimal, Kushal Perera, Thirimanne are all in great form with the bat this series. We chased down Aus' total in the 2nd ODI with 8 wickets in hand... I admit we failed in the 1st but we were only warming up and in the 3rd, we were in a hurry to finish the game off. SL wouldn't have been in a rush to finish the 4th and would have steadily reached Aus' total. Watch out in the 5th.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 21, 2013, 10:59 GMT

Bearface - Sri Lanka were bowled out twice in Melbourne test on a great pitch for under 200. THe pitch didnt matter then nor would it this game. Yes the pitch was good and Sri Lanka bowling was excellent but anything could have happened in the second innings and Aussie fans were rightly confident before the rain that they would win.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 21, 2013, 10:56 GMT

LukeCannon - THe team is not over-hyped, and its much maligned locally because fans are missing the greats that were irreplacable. They are a good solid side thats developing however with a greater importance on the longer game or the World Cup. This series is immaterial to either of those however I still expect that we will bounce back and draw this series. I like Sri Lanka and know they will always give a great competetive performance, they have a lot of good short form cricketers and harbour no grudges to Sri Lanka but their is no malicious intent from Cricket Australia or no injustices towards Sri Lanka.

POSTED BY
OneEyedAussie
on | January 21, 2013, 10:50 GMT

Wow! the SL fans sure are confident - even more than the Captain of their cricket team. I seem to recall him sprinting off the field at the sight of a drops of moisture, must have been a bit worried about chasing over 200 knowing that if he and Dilshan are dismissed the whole thing could come to pieces.

He seemed pretty keen to get the game going when it 100-odd with 10 wickets in hand at 6 per over though - funny how that works.

POSTED BY
Nerk
on | January 21, 2013, 10:08 GMT

Sri Lanka should be happy at this. Now they cannot lose the series, whatever happens in Hobart! It was an even contest at the time, perhaps tending to the side of Sri Lanka, but what annoys me is that cricket fans all over the world were deprived of a tight match between two evenly matched teams. That, rather than the result, is the most important factor to be taken out of this sham.

POSTED BY
TrueLankan
on | January 21, 2013, 9:17 GMT

Sri Lankans saying we could of won easily are not right and Australia fans saying they could of won is just as silly. Anything could of happened. We have chased down bigger targets with ease before and we have also collapsed in chases before. What we should ask as cricket fans is why the game was cancelled and not argue about who would of won. I personally would of rather the game being played and lose than no game at all due to an 'unfair advantage' which is not even in the rules.

POSTED BY
jaztech
on | January 22, 2013, 0:31 GMT

The thing is, Daniel Brettig, that we (that includes you) only got to see one side bat. We have no idea how difficult the Sri Lankans may have found it had they been batting. In fact, if you took out two of the Lankan batters with poor umpiring decisions, they might have fared considerably worse than what Australia did. This is a poor article lacking in perspective.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 21, 2013, 21:52 GMT

Trav696 - Yes I do the 50 over game they use two new balls and the ball is new a lot longer. Do you know what quality batting is? Dilshan has been a spud all tour, looks like getting out every ball. Perera looks promising but two games with a high score of 22 you couldnt use the word great. Chandimal been out injured for a coule of games and blunts your momentum and Thiriman e due a failure. You cant rely on Angelo Matthews to get a run. Yes at 220 Australia was in the box seat, the D/L would have worked to make it heaps easier for Sri Lanka so if you think about it, it would have been a hollow victory. If the show was on the other foot and they played we would be greeted with outrage from the Sri Lankan fans.

POSTED BY
on | January 21, 2013, 19:22 GMT

I'll be damed if Australia wins the 5th one and it turns out to be a 2-2 pointless tie

POSTED BY
trav696
on | January 21, 2013, 12:57 GMT

@OneEyedAussie, haha, they sprinted off because they used their heads. Aus won the toss and batted first, but SL was always going to bowl first thinking about getting the D/L method to come their way when batting. When the opportunity arised, the went off to field in the hope of actually coming back on. They couldn't see either... the drizzle was distracting them. Mate, even if it didn't rain, we would have chased 200 down. SL wouldn't have had to do anything reckless, so they would have kept wickets in tact and won in the end. Aus put on an act in the end anyway saying that they wanted to come back on and 'defend' that total. Clarke knew and deep down, his team knew they couldn't defend it. Hope SL don't give Aus a chance in the 5th and seal the series 3-1, giving them a victory they were robbed of in the 4th.

POSTED BY
trav696
on | January 21, 2013, 12:42 GMT

@Shaggy076, firstly, do you know the difference between a five day match consisting of roughly 90 overs per day and a ODI with 50 overs for each side?? The test series has nothing to do with the ODI series. Sri Lanka's line up is much better in the ODI's and we are a far better side in the shorter format. The shorter the format, the better the game goes. Because of the D/L method, it would have turned out to be a T20, only needing 6 runs per over or less. SL are ranked No.1 in T20 by a mile, and you mean to say with TEN wickets in the shed, we can't chase down about 120, no make it 130 as you say. Dilshan, Chandimal, Kushal Perera, Thirimanne are all in great form with the bat this series. We chased down Aus' total in the 2nd ODI with 8 wickets in hand... I admit we failed in the 1st but we were only warming up and in the 3rd, we were in a hurry to finish the game off. SL wouldn't have been in a rush to finish the 4th and would have steadily reached Aus' total. Watch out in the 5th.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 21, 2013, 10:59 GMT

Bearface - Sri Lanka were bowled out twice in Melbourne test on a great pitch for under 200. THe pitch didnt matter then nor would it this game. Yes the pitch was good and Sri Lanka bowling was excellent but anything could have happened in the second innings and Aussie fans were rightly confident before the rain that they would win.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 21, 2013, 10:56 GMT

LukeCannon - THe team is not over-hyped, and its much maligned locally because fans are missing the greats that were irreplacable. They are a good solid side thats developing however with a greater importance on the longer game or the World Cup. This series is immaterial to either of those however I still expect that we will bounce back and draw this series. I like Sri Lanka and know they will always give a great competetive performance, they have a lot of good short form cricketers and harbour no grudges to Sri Lanka but their is no malicious intent from Cricket Australia or no injustices towards Sri Lanka.

POSTED BY
OneEyedAussie
on | January 21, 2013, 10:50 GMT

Wow! the SL fans sure are confident - even more than the Captain of their cricket team. I seem to recall him sprinting off the field at the sight of a drops of moisture, must have been a bit worried about chasing over 200 knowing that if he and Dilshan are dismissed the whole thing could come to pieces.

He seemed pretty keen to get the game going when it 100-odd with 10 wickets in hand at 6 per over though - funny how that works.

POSTED BY
Nerk
on | January 21, 2013, 10:08 GMT

Sri Lanka should be happy at this. Now they cannot lose the series, whatever happens in Hobart! It was an even contest at the time, perhaps tending to the side of Sri Lanka, but what annoys me is that cricket fans all over the world were deprived of a tight match between two evenly matched teams. That, rather than the result, is the most important factor to be taken out of this sham.

POSTED BY
TrueLankan
on | January 21, 2013, 9:17 GMT

Sri Lankans saying we could of won easily are not right and Australia fans saying they could of won is just as silly. Anything could of happened. We have chased down bigger targets with ease before and we have also collapsed in chases before. What we should ask as cricket fans is why the game was cancelled and not argue about who would of won. I personally would of rather the game being played and lose than no game at all due to an 'unfair advantage' which is not even in the rules.

POSTED BY
bearface
on | January 21, 2013, 7:27 GMT

There is nothing to suggest that Sl wouldnt have chased this down this was a good pitch Australia aided by a few bad decisions simply collapsed.. poor batting does not mean the pitch or the conditions are bad.

POSTED BY
bearface
on | January 21, 2013, 7:24 GMT

a shame really Srilanka will now have to settle for a 3-1 series victory instead of a 4-1 victory.

POSTED BY
Narbavi
on | January 21, 2013, 6:49 GMT

@lukecannon: Come on man, we have seen the lankan batters struggle time and time again on this tour, so to come out and say that u guys were robbed of a win is just a bit overboard, i agree we should have had the game go on instead of calling it off, no one is siding with australia or srilanka here, i commented on the basis of what i have seen of the lankan batsmen on this tour

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 21, 2013, 6:22 GMT

Trav696 - Please tell me why Australian fans wouldnt be confident with 220 on the board. We have seen the Sri Lankan bats fail in every test as well and we havent seen anything in the one-dayers to suggest they would get that target. D/L sets up an equivalent score and I wold imagine 130 (remember 3 overs had already gone for 14 runs) - so 17 for 116. i would back Australia iin. Luke Cannon - Have you got anymore hard luck stories, yes cricket should have been played but the umpires should hae gone on the field as it was. Then you try and make your point with a totally unfounded ball tampering incident, time to grow up the world is not conspiring against you.

POSTED BY
NasirBangladesh
on | January 21, 2013, 5:22 GMT

Host saved by rain or Srilanka bowled well throught out the tournament..whatever it is, there is poor show of batting by the Australian who set their own par of performance. The continuity of performance is still a far-fetched. Not really matter Team A or Team B, batting performance is same except inaugural match which does not mean that they are on the right track on the way to number one in the world to again. Very well-done by the Srilankan. We are waiting to look for the final clash.

POSTED BY
umangsagar
on | January 21, 2013, 5:03 GMT

Personally I am not sure if SL would have over hauled the target for sure, it still was anyone's game as the ball was doing a lot and Australia do have a decent attack. Result not withstanding, I cannot make out what to think of the abandonment. The umpires and referee will have to go by the rule book, but I do want to question the ground staff with whom a lot could be expected for a venue as glorious as that. Any supporter of good cricket anywhere would not like matches to be abandoned till its the last possible option, winning and losing is far better. Good luck to both teams for the last match.

POSTED BY
on | January 21, 2013, 4:55 GMT

Sri lanka seems to get the short end of the stick every time...based on this rule we should have called off the game until the weather clears (we shouldn't have played the way the 2007 final ended. For cricket to be considered a quality sport, measures should be taken to eliminate any uneven advantages...DRS is a good move, need to have a better system to decide any weather interrupted games (covering the whole ground should be a must, plus should have reserve day for every ODI).

POSTED BY
KajuWaththaEksath
on | January 21, 2013, 4:46 GMT

@Gilly4ever, Aussie were 74 all out and SL achieved the target by falling 6 wickets. If the game at SCG continued SL will get the target 223/0 or 223/9.

POSTED BY
Hukapan
on | January 21, 2013, 4:44 GMT

Gilly4ever: ya accept that Sri lanka were 76/6, but what u forget is that Aus were 74/10 on the same pitch. So I dont see the case ur building here.
Think before you comment.

POSTED BY
deepmidwicket88
on | January 21, 2013, 4:06 GMT

yea.. SL were 76/6 but AUS were 74/10, so lame.. SL is the better side.. remember how they chased 174.. this decision just has stolen the opportunity for another ODI 100...it's a disgrace to AUS cricket and all cricket lovers..btw there are many better teams than AUS. since players like Hayden,Adam.ponting,hussey,warne is not there..now it's just a loosing side..accept the reality..thanks god the tests held before ODIs.. other wise we could,ve seen plenty of failures..dissapointed with clarke, thought he was reasonable..

POSTED BY
tallaussie13
on | January 21, 2013, 3:18 GMT

The umpiring is an absolute joke. The inside edge onto the pad of Warner was clear as day and no umpire paying full attention to the play would have missed that, but this one did so it must have been that they weren't fully concentrating and missed the edge. Disgraceful to say the least. The umpires should have to explain themselves when a decision like this is made. That wicket could have swung the game in Australia's favour had Warner rightfully been given not out, but instead it swung it quite significantly in favour of Sri Lanka. One may argue that Pup shouldn't have wasted Australia's review with his LBW but that shouldn't matter as the umpire should have seen the edge.
Sure, Australia's batting was exposed against swing and seam and they managed a mediocre total, but to say they were going to lose is going overboard. 222 is a defendable total with their bowling attack, which could have done some damage.

POSTED BY
Tal_Botvinnik
on | January 21, 2013, 3:15 GMT

@Gilly4ever AUS were 74/10 last match. Plus SL Threw their wickets away due to poor shots and hyper aggressive approach.Dilshan,Thrimanne,Mahela,Tharanga,mendis all just played stupid shots none of them other than mathews no one was outdone the way malinga and kulasekera outdid the AUS batsmen.

POSTED BY
Sanj2002
on | January 21, 2013, 2:20 GMT

Why most people talk nonsense here? in GABA that was a very low score 74. its nothing!!! If you are chasing a low score like 74, Players trying to finish it much faster!! can loose few wickets on the way!! So what is the big deal? Do you people play cricket??????

POSTED BY
trav696
on | January 21, 2013, 1:17 GMT

All you Aus fans think that Aus could have won the game if they got back on the field, haha. Don't refer to SL being 6-75 because that was a completely different game and situation, and SL only lost those wickets because they wanted to win the match in quickfire time. The SCG pitch was much easier to bat on and to think that Aus actually had a chance is a joke. We had 10 wickets in hand, probably chasing roughly 120 or so runs at about 6.00 RR and plus, had Chandimal in the team again. Aus were just putting on an act pretending they wanted to get back on the field and 'have a crack at winning.' Every single player in the team including Clarke knew they had no chance. Not sure what Clarke was thinking when he said his team had a chance, and Aus fans, don't get sucked into what he is saying about having a chance at winning. They escaped a series loss this match, but doesn't mean Aus will escape again in Hobart.

POSTED BY
lawton
on | January 21, 2013, 1:13 GMT

As the match was abandoned due to "unfair conditions"are we to expect matches to be abandoned because of one side having good batting" condition" and the other not???

POSTED BY
jmcilhinney
on | January 21, 2013, 1:00 GMT

@mngc on (January 20 2013, 19:29 PM GMT), it did not happen in this case because Clarke gambled his team's only review on an LBW decision that was obviously not clearly wrong.

POSTED BY
kristee
on | January 21, 2013, 0:56 GMT

At least 3 referrals per innings, whether test or ODI, are a necessity. Watching cricket gets so awkward otherwise. Oz were hard done yesterday while SL was, in the tests. Anyway the series stops short of falling to the level of some farce going on somewhere else in the name of cricket, even with this limited use of referrals.

POSTED BY
07sanjeewakaru
on | January 21, 2013, 0:15 GMT

I don't know who would've won.As SL struggled to chase 74,They would't have got 222.What a logic.So AUS should've made another 70 odd in this ODI as they made 74 in the previous.This was a different pitch.
What I 'm thinking is SCG and the Umpires marred the wonderful match would've been the most intriguing chase in this AUS summer.

POSTED BY
Lord.emsworth
on | January 21, 2013, 0:00 GMT

Chris_P ... Read your inputs about getting soaking wet in the DRIZZLE. I wasnt at the match but judging from a good deal of commentator remarks both on TV and the internet the rain lasted 40 odd minutes. Sure you can get wet soaking or otherwise, but thats not the issue here. This water damage ought to have been easily fixed by professional groundsmen & Oz officials and overseen by the umpires.

POSTED BY
ex-Srilankan
on | January 20, 2013, 23:45 GMT

Australia were not saved by the rain but Sri Lanka were. Sri Lanka would have struggled to chase down 222 and any Sri Lankan fan who believes otherwise are kidding themselves. MJ got the burst of rain he wanted to reduce the target and turn the game to his advantage but the strategy backfired.

There was a time when the DL system was seen as favouring the team batting first when it rains in the 2nd innings as it often does in Sydney. But thanks to T20, reduced totals that require an higher run rate are 'gettable' for teams batting second. Maybe the DL system needs some revising but calling the game off was probably the fairest decision.

POSTED BY
nesith
on | January 20, 2013, 23:28 GMT

@Gilly4ever and all other aussie supporters why is it all you guys forget that AUS were all out 74 ??? so what SL were 6/75 they won didn't they ?? and here is something you to ponder, had the game resumed what do you think SL was to chase 222??? NO 56 because only 20 overs would have been possible, just 56, 14 of which was already made, so before you comment, and degrade another Team, I think you should look at all the facts, and be smart enough to understand cricket,

POSTED BY
bobagorof
on | January 20, 2013, 23:00 GMT

HycIass: I was wondering the same thing before the series even started. David Hussey has been out of form for 9 months, save for a few innings here and there. He was dropped from the side for the Champion's Trophy last year, brought back for the last match because his replacement had also failed. While he has an awesome career record, it's unfortunate that he's out of form just when he has a chance to impress. Cricket is all about timing, but I fear he played his shot too early.

POSTED BY
bobagorof
on | January 20, 2013, 22:54 GMT

Hopefully the article is not just being kind, and this match will actually get the Australian team to re-think its use of the referral. The system is there to prevent decisions such as Warner's and Henriques' - I have little sympathy for batsmen who gamble on 50/50 decisions. It's true that the standard of umpiring was very poor, and that needs to be addressed, but a team doesn't help itself by using a review when a batsman is hit in front of the stumps!

POSTED BY
Hash_Tag
on | January 20, 2013, 21:25 GMT

@Ravikiran Hande on (January 20 2013, 14:11 PM GMT) I too am Indian. But I am wondering - why are you here? If you really didn't care as much as you say - then why even bother to look at this page let alone comment? The game was washed off - what does it have to do with us? Nothing. Why not celebrate beating England with me over on our forums? Leave SL to enjoy this - we will deal with them in India in their turn. Never doubt it.

POSTED BY
Ozcricketwriter
on | January 20, 2013, 21:23 GMT

What nonsense that Australia were going to lose. Sri Lanka were 6/76 last match. There is nothing to suggest that they were going to get this total.

POSTED BY
VivGilchrist
on | January 20, 2013, 21:17 GMT

I'm pretty sure the Aussies would have scored more than 222 if not two disgraceful umpiring decisions were made. Warner and Henriques were robbed. This can skew a result.

POSTED BY
RandyOZ
on | January 20, 2013, 21:17 GMT

Sri Lanka got lucky. Starc was looking good and they wouldve ben rolled for 150. The fans here are getting a bit irate aren't they? I guess that is what you would expect for fans from a country who is still yet to ever win a test match in Australia.

POSTED BY
cardmak
on | January 20, 2013, 20:50 GMT

Now I would love to see Phil Hughes or Bailey play the swinging balls during the Ashes series. It's a joke to see how poor their techniques are. Bailey was beaten four times consecutively in one over of Malinga. You talk about hiding Hughes from the South Africans, no worry mate the SL team have exposed him yet again. He is an ordinary batsman at best. Now 3 scores of under 10. Good only when the conditions are perfect. But wait he will continue to play because the selectors love this talented batsman???

POSTED BY
Greatest_Game
on | January 20, 2013, 20:15 GMT

Whatever one may think about the decision to abandon the game, it is clear that Australia's batting has again been exposed against swing and seam. This confirms what was seen in the SA tour during the Perth test. Questionable umpiring will not be able to resolve this. Australia's rebuilding will not go far until this is addressed.

POSTED BY
NP_NY
on | January 20, 2013, 20:02 GMT

It is wrong to say that the "hosts were saved by the weather". SL struggled to chase down 78 in the last match. 222 is a decent score in swinging conditions and Aus has a good bowling attack. Not saying SL would have lost, but it could have gone either way, probably more in Aus's favor. Besides this is probably good for SL anyway because now they can't lose the series. In the recent past, SL has shown time and again that they cannot win series deciding matches or finals. So this result is probably a blessing for SL.

POSTED BY
Philip_Gnana
on | January 20, 2013, 19:58 GMT

The host be better prepared for the World Cup as all would want to have a decent game. SL have been robbed and quite rightly are asking questions.

POSTED BY
mngc1
on | January 20, 2013, 19:29 GMT

The DRS was implemented to get the best match result by eliminating umpiring errors. This did not happen in this case because the limitation on the number of reviews blocked it. There are thousands of dollars between winning and losing a game, a series, man of the match, man of the series, marketability of the players, etc.

To improve the situation I wish to propose the following: 1. Increase the number of reviews by three. 2. For the first review where the decision stays charge the team asking for it 5% of match fee. 3. For the second such review charge an additional 10%. For the third charge 20%. 4. No charge for overturned decision and no loss of review.

POSTED BY
tennakoon63
on | January 20, 2013, 19:18 GMT

As the banner title to the article said " Report - Wet outfield saves hosts ", explains everything. Mother nature favored the Aussies and saved them from disgrace.

POSTED BY
Narbavi
on | January 20, 2013, 17:19 GMT

@Dilruksh: Wrong again, srilanka actually lost 3 and not 2 like u mentioned!!

POSTED BY
Narbavi
on | January 20, 2013, 17:17 GMT

@cricfan100: Yes i agree india started playing test cricket way before, but those days were completely different to the modern day game, those days people rarely played, can't compare the cricket in the 30's and 40's with that from the late 70's, even if u take the last two decades u will know that india and srilanka have been in the same level in terms of quality is concerned, that's why this comparison!!

POSTED BY
Narbavi
on | January 20, 2013, 17:15 GMT

@Master_Mihil : lol Sanga and kula were available in the initial part of the series and should i remind you we won in 2008 2009 etc without the likes of sachin or viru then zaheer and even yuvraj

POSTED BY
Jimmers
on | January 20, 2013, 17:13 GMT

Bet Anderson is wetting himself watching these Aussies done by swing. Good luck in England boys, you'll need it

POSTED BY
TrueLankan
on | January 20, 2013, 16:29 GMT

@TheBigBoodha : So you obviously have a grudge against Sri Lanka and don't like the team. Oh well, what's new. My advice to you is to watch the game first and then comment without making yourself look like a fool. Stop trolling. The video evidence is there and others who have WATCHED THE GAME have agreed. Australia is known to bend the rules to get the game in their favor. We haven't gone past 200 since your team has failed to post that many more than once. Have you already forgotten what happened on Friday when you were a.o for 75. Wouldn't be surprised if you did. Stop crying about your teams pathetic performances in ODI in the last 6 years. Also, Clarke wasted a review for a plumb LBW. His fault mate. Not the umpires. Get a better understanding of the game first before trying to comment.

POSTED BY
Htc-Android
on | January 20, 2013, 16:15 GMT

we were unlucky today. We would have defenentely chased that total. Anyways we should focus on winning the next game. We should replace perera with eranga. Because after watching the last 2 games, Aussies have some weakness agianst swing bowling. It would be ideal to open the bowling with eranga and kula. Eranga can bowls a bit quicker than kula and he swings it both ways. Aussies will have tough time facing both these bowlers.

POSTED BY
ddlj26
on | January 20, 2013, 16:09 GMT

Lets see the facts

India has won 5 tests in Australia with the first test win in 1977. India has won 5 tests in England in contrast to the 2 test wins Sri Lanka has in England. Pakistan has 4 test wins in Australia with the last being in Sydney in Nov 1995. India's last test win in Australia was back in 2008 and in England back in 2007... now wait if i get this right India has the best test record among all sub continent teams and also most latest test wins on testing conditions compared to Pak and SL...

So all my SL and Pak friends please concentrate on your own teams short comings before talking about how India is weak and so forth... you see talking rubbish can only take you so far !!

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 15:52 GMT

@cricfan100, India has won 5 tests in Australia with the first test win in 1977. India has won 5 tests in England in contrast to the 2 test wins Sri Lanka has in England. Our achievements in England are quite good indeed. Pakistan has 4 test wins in Australia with the last being in Sydney in Nov 1995. We had the perfect chance to win in Sydney this time but awful selections and rash batting meant we gifted it away! Pakistan has the best away test record of all sub continent teams.

POSTED BY
lansiya
on | January 20, 2013, 15:49 GMT

Its amazing how many Indians are getting involved in this S/L Aussie match.
Why dont you comment on your matches against England and let the Sri Lankans and Aussies worry about their matches. By the way BigBoodha maybe you should
consider meditating under that famous tree and let the countries concerned get on with their cricket.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 15:38 GMT

@AMAZINGFAN, dont you understand that the approach teams use when chasing small and large totals is different? So we were eager to wrap up the game on Friday and lost wickets. We never looked troubled today at all. Forgot the fact that we beat Australia 4 out of 7 times in the CB series last year?? Forgot how we beat Australia 2-1 in the 2010 tour??

POSTED BY
SamRoy
on | January 20, 2013, 15:35 GMT

Oh come on stop this, Indan and SL end your bickering, enjoy your cricket. Can't either side do some constructive criticism?

POSTED BY
cricfan100
on | January 20, 2013, 15:07 GMT

@Narbavi, I accept the fact that india has won test matches in austrailia and sri lanka is yet to do that. But at the same time, If i am not mistaken india got test status in 1932 where as sri lanka got it in 1981. the difference it self is 49 years. And sri lanka's test history is just 32 years, which is far lesser than the difference ( 49 years.) itself. So I think it would be fair to compare the number of test matches that india has won in ausrailia upto date, with the number test matches sri lanka would win in austrailia in nother 49 years time. What do you think?

POSTED BY
Lakpj
on | January 20, 2013, 15:06 GMT

Aus bowlers didn't get the amount assistant that SL bowlers got, and if the overs were reduced Aus would have played right into the hands of SL. they were no wickets down at the time rain started so D/L would have favored them too..

POSTED BY
Master_Mihil
on | January 20, 2013, 15:04 GMT

Huh! indians are so overjoyed by their 4-1 victory over us in SL. Without kule and without sanga. You only beat our B -team. We defeated strong Pak bowling attack at home with our A-team. You lost to pakistan at home. Don't matter now your god's are gone and Shewag becoming old you guys are left with mediocre Raina and one-hit-wonder jadeja. I don't see india winning any matches against us in the future. #1 due to playing only 3 matches with pak, had that been 5 matches you guys would have been below us in the rankings.

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 20, 2013, 14:58 GMT

@truelsnkan you throw around accusations of corruption simply because umpires were discussing things with team managers, while at the same time being outraged by that alleged corruption. Posting defamatory accusations without evidence might be considered less than morally upright in some people's eyes. Your constant slagging of everything Australian is thoroughly predictable. I do believe there is term for habitual animosity towards another ethnic group.

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 14:57 GMT

@ RednWhiteArmy on (January 20 2013, 13:52 PM GMT) there is one mighty and that is the Saffers, there is one mighty mighty that was the Aussies, there is one legends that was the Windies, if you do not respect your opponents you will not beat them.

POSTED BY
Kapila.K
on | January 20, 2013, 14:53 GMT

Rise-of-Sinhaya, Sinhaya-2 and Sinhya (Not the real Lanka fan, Sinhaya) is an Indian masquerading as a Sri Lankan. Do not fall for the trap!

POSTED BY
Kapila.K
on | January 20, 2013, 14:50 GMT

pkzindabaad is an Indian masquerading as a Pakistani to deliberately cause friction between Lankan and Pakistani fans. Dont fall for the trap!

POSTED BY
cricfan100
on | January 20, 2013, 14:49 GMT

@ Ravikiran Hande, I simply don't understand indian fans attitude. what are you doing here commenting on a "sri lanka vs austrailia" post. I think you should concentrate on england vs india.

POSTED BY
cricfan100
on | January 20, 2013, 14:38 GMT

There are lot of cricket fans here blaming sri lanka wanted to get out of there when it started raining. no doubt of that and that is what most of the other teams would have done as well, given the fact that it is hard to concentrate on the ball when it is drizzling infront of your eyes. But was it just because that mahela wanted to go out, that umpires halted the game. then how easy would this game be. It was only after carefully scrutinizing the prevailing conditions that umpires decided to walk off and mahela had nothing to do with it. It was umpires decision all the way. And if umpires succumbed to the pressure put on them by mahela, then at the first place they should be stripped of their umpiring duties.

POSTED BY
Narbavi
on | January 20, 2013, 14:29 GMT

@cricfan100: not proud of that just corrected him and yes i agree in odi's u guys have done well recently in australia, but shall we bring test cricket in to the picture? yes we lost 0-4 last year but atleast we have won tests there, and when we lost 0-4 u guys made fun of us, and what happened now? a 3-0 trashing is what u got in return

POSTED BY
Dilruksh
on | January 20, 2013, 14:21 GMT

@ narbavi india won only one game against the australians in the 2012 cb series where as sri lanka lost only 2 out of six matches played against aus

POSTED BY
Perera32
on | January 20, 2013, 14:18 GMT

@Narbavi: No offence mate but did you say India were competetive in the 2012 CB series???? 1 good knock by Kohli in a flat Hobart pitch makes all the other things better then does it?. Sri lanka finished top of the pool in the CB series in 2012 and India were last in the pool. Yes congratulations on winning a CB series about 6 years ago. I have many Indian friends and they get embarrassed by Indians like you that keep comparing India to Sri lanka. I doubt you ever appreciate good cricket and I doubt you'll appreciate that Sri lanka have played good cricket in the past 3 ODI's.

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 20, 2013, 14:17 GMT

Are SL fans being serious thinking their batsmen were going to walk back out in the drizzle (it never stopped) and face Johnson and Starc on a sticky wicket and score 220 runs? It would have been carnage! Starc is the best "dew" bowler around. The wicket had already been exposed to 5 minutes of drizzle, and since it was still drizzling when the game was called off, it would have turned into a minefield if uncovered again. You can't have it both ways. You can't get the benefit of dodgy umpiring and turn a blind eye, then later claim those same umpires are against you. The truth is they cost AUS 50 runs and saved SL from a potentially series losing batting disaster, and for that you should be grateful.

POSTED BY
cricfan100
on | January 20, 2013, 14:15 GMT

@Narbavi, you must be quiet proud in saying "we did beat australia once in that 2012 CB series".But out of how many matches was it? But we beat them four times in that sereis out of seven meetings. I hope you remember that. I accept the fact that india won 2008 CB series and full credit to them. But that victory came due to brilliance of one man and it was your little master who hit back to back hundreds. But with his form now gone who is there to rescue you ? And this was the main reason why you won that (so called "we did beat australia once in that 2012 CB series") only one match in the 2012 CB series. yes, Sri lankans were weak against india in the recent past in our home soil , but were far superior than india in austrailia and that is no fluke. winning ratio of 9:14 against austrailia shows you that.

POSTED BY
on | January 20, 2013, 14:11 GMT

Simply dont understand the SL fans attitude?Why would an Indian be jealous of ur team's accomplishments(Not sure whatever it is).When was the last time ur team managed a win against ours or forget it manage a series win ur home atleast against India?If Indians win a series in SL U lambaste ur own pitch conditions saying it is flat,if u win against Aussies it is the perfect cricketing pitch now?Forgot the Thrashing VIRAT AND RAINA GAVE TO UR SUPPOSEDLY WORLD CLASS MALINGA?WE JUST DONT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT UR TEAM.Yes we lost to Pakistan,look at their bowling arsenal,ur team wouldnt last 20 overs against their bowling.Even South Africa lost to NewZealand in their own home,doesnt mean anything other than a bad day or a temporary low.Ur team hasnt won any series against a competent team for over an year both home and away,REFLECT ON THAT,It was definetly 50-50 chance at best for ur country to win against Aussies today.UR TEAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN VERY DESPERATE TO SHOW OFF

POSTED BY
RoJayao
on | January 20, 2013, 14:07 GMT

So ahhhh a SL win was a foregone conclusion was it? On a seaming wicket with a swinging ball and Dilshan again playing like a millionaire?! The same side that struggled badly chasing down 75? Wow, so SL fans ARE as silly as Indian fans! Who knew! Just remember, it was Jaywardene that complained and talked the umpire into calling off play. You reap what you sow SL!

POSTED BY
gsingh7
on | January 20, 2013, 14:01 GMT

sl always lose to indians , last time 4-1 at colombo. also 0 test win in india and aus show they are minnows in tests , india is rank 1 in odis, wat is sl rank?? also malinga gone for 170 plus runs in 2 matches
(odi) in aus in cb series on green tops against weak batmen ,mostly by kohli(24 run over with six 4) 37 overs=330 runs conceded by sl spinners mendis and pacers kula and eranga and malinga is a world record for most runs in under 40 over mark, all this happened after india defeated sl in wc final to make them runnners up in 2011 along with 2007 wc

POSTED BY
knight_in_cricket_gear
on | January 20, 2013, 13:59 GMT

The only reason why India are number 1 is because they play Sri Lanka a lot.

POSTED BY
Front-Foot-Lunge
on | January 20, 2013, 13:57 GMT

The '40 all out' team must be trying their best, but can only manage pittance against the weakest bowling attack in world cricket. At least the rain has saved Australia from yet another thrashing.

POSTED BY
Chris_P
on | January 20, 2013, 13:56 GMT

@Herath-UK. Mate, I was at the game, Mahela was waving his arms about for the whole 3.2 overs almost pleading with the umpires that it was too wet to stay & when the decision to go was set, the Sri Lankan batsman almost broke world records running off the ground whilst the Australian players waited out there for about 30 or so seconds & finally trudged off. No doubt it was a strategic ploy to gain maximum benefit for any D/L system (& good for him in using all tools avalable). Then the rain acutally got worse! I got soaked in about 10-15 minutes in what I thought was a light drizzle. No way could you played there, seriously, it was far too wet.

POSTED BY
TrueLankan
on | January 20, 2013, 13:55 GMT

If anyone watched the game on t.v they would of saw the umpires having a "friendly" chat with Mickey Arthur and Michael Clarke.I am sure they were not discussing what each of them had for lunch. AND they only invited Mahela to join them after 15 minutes and it was only to inform him about the decision. Something fishy there. I am a die hard Lankan fan but I would rather see a game of cricket close as this and us lose than no game at all.

POSTED BY
RednWhiteArmy
on | January 20, 2013, 13:52 GMT

@Rickyvoncunterbury If you wanna ask the ICC if australia can play the mighty, mighty England more often, we'd be very, very interested.

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 13:48 GMT

This is an injustice, Ii cannot believe the umpires could rig this to give Sri Lanka a win on Aussie soil, I believe the Aussies should take this to the Hague, talk about ripping a team ofF, they would have won by at least 50 runs.

POSTED BY
Narbavi
on | January 20, 2013, 13:29 GMT

@JPNana: look who is saying that? u guys always lose to us in your own backyard, u guys never won a test in our country and also in australia, atleast we won the CB series in 2008 and were competitive in 2012 too whereas your team lost 6 matches in that 2008 tournament and you are wrong, we did beat australia once in that 2012 CB series

POSTED BY
LegB4wkt
on | January 20, 2013, 13:27 GMT

My fellow SL fans, Don't worry guys. We're not gonna let 'em get away with it. Pls go n read the other article. SLC are going to take it to the ICC.

POSTED BY
Herath-UK
on | January 20, 2013, 13:27 GMT

Mahela has complained against the unfair cancellation & who was the match referee behind this incompetent decision?you can guess who is he & he probably was jealous too of a Sri Lanka's win.
Ranil Herath - Kent

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 13:25 GMT

@ AMAZINGFAN on (January 20 2013, 13:02 PM GMT) the only reason i can think of why India is number1, either they play England a lot or they play at home a lot,

POSTED BY
RaadQ
on | January 20, 2013, 13:24 GMT

Good to see the SriLankans restore some pride after a bad test series and first ODI. The last three games have shown whether it's Aus A or B doesn't matter, Sri Lanka's effort and spirit has been superior. Australia's rotation policy will bite them in the WC unless they fix it soon. Also, why does Henriques keep getting chances, his average of 23 (bat) and 40 (ball) in List A cricket is hilarious. It almost seemed like the umpires called off the match on purpose to save australia the embarrasment of a series loss to make up for their two bad decisions (which wouldn't have cost australia if not for clarke's reckless use of the DRS). Also, good to see Starc stinging from the tail, it isn't over until the Fat Lady sings!

POSTED BY
Tal_Botvinnik
on | January 20, 2013, 13:24 GMT

@AMAZINGFAN Indians are weak against spin we saw that in the recent test series against England and ODIs against Pak. Lets not forget swing and seam the overseas hammering india got.Thus India weak against Quality Spin and Quality seam. Even a loose spinner like Jeetan Patel Managed wickets against them.

Don't Worry we will hammer the ozzies next game.They have only three bowlers.
WE have 6 batsmen,2 all rounders bowlers who have proven they can bat(kula and lasith have 50s in Oz) On a green wicket our bowlers will be unplayable. all the ozzie batsmen are walking wickets (other than Starc,warner,Doherty)

Our Batsmen are on form and Ozzies can't now win the Series.We got nothing to lose

POSTED BY
cricfan100
on | January 20, 2013, 13:16 GMT

There are rules and regulations that you have to be abide by, in an international cricket match. How can the most responsible person on the field(Umpire) make decisions based on his sentiments and emotins ignoring the rules and regulations where the entire game is dependent on. There should be a proper investigation regarding this incident. If found guilty umpires should be peanalised. If not this would be a wrong example to the entire cricketing world, that you can do what ever you feel right even if the rule says something else. If that is to be the case then why are we so much concerned about these mind boggling rules and regulatoins of the ICC. let's do what we feel right and continue playing cricket and see where we'll end up.

POSTED BY
Sakthiivel
on | January 20, 2013, 13:12 GMT

Aussies should watch Kohli and Dhoni's batting against Malinga and their hope less quick's.
@ AMAZINGFAN :Yup, Indians can beat any srilankan team any day, it has been tested and proved.

POSTED BY
King_Ravanaa
on | January 20, 2013, 13:12 GMT

what has happens today is not good for the spirit of the game.. these Australians has done it before not for these so called Indians too, in a 2008 series which prevent from wining their one and only test series win against Australia in Australia..

ICC should investigate on these incidents,

POSTED BY
LegB4wkt
on | January 20, 2013, 13:10 GMT

@AMAZINGFAN ; I know that you are another 3rd class indian troll. Are talking about the same Indian team who couldn't win a single match against Aus during the CB series and also got trashed by poms and Pak at home ??? Sri lanka have won 9 out of 15 recent ODI's against Aus. Stop making a jackass outta yourself.

POSTED BY
DanTas
on | January 20, 2013, 13:05 GMT

Only managed to watch the last ten overs or so of Aussie innings. Notable was lack of IQ dismissals of Wade and McKay. We used to have one day players capable of
summing up any given situation and playing accordingly. All very well to trudge off
dejected and disappointed but really no cricketing nous at all. Wade in particular should have been given a swift kick up the proverbial for the manner in which he was dismissed. The team was looking to him to provide some Bevan/Hussey type resolve and leadership in the dying overs. Instead it was left to youngster Starc.

POSTED BY
Sulaimaan91
on | January 20, 2013, 13:04 GMT

@TheBigBoodha The SL players had every right to ask the umpires, nobody is questioning why the players left the field, its about why after just 45mins of light rain the game was abandoned when the match hadnt reached the cut-off time and there wasnt any visible damage to the outfield.
@Amazingfan you reading into SLs batting from the previous match shows how little insight you put into your writings, that was jsut going after a small score and most of those wickets lost were rash strokes, SL has chased 250+ scores before in Aus and had this shortened game been restarted, it would really have been in SL's favour since Aus had lost 9 wickets.Ian Healy did say on air that the match might have been called off for this very same reason.

POSTED BY
AMAZINGFAN
on | January 20, 2013, 13:02 GMT

@Damian123,yes best time for SL to tour IND because they can atleast now compete against ind with ind team is in transititon phase but guess what ur sl team will definitely lose against weak ind side....

@rickyvoncanterbury,wait IND is on top on icc rankings(that means they play consistently well) and which team u r mentioning as tough opponent...

@sinhaya,U CALL a team which consist players like cook,KP,bell,morgan,bresnan,finn etc as B SIDE...LOL and pls look at ur team's record against us and then talk.....why sl team struggle to beat ind even when they r playing at home...cricinfo pls publish

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 12:58 GMT

it has now got to the stage that supporters cannot tell the difference between the 3 formats, people are writing off the ashes, the bowling attack in England will be Siddle, Pattinson, Bird, Starc, Harris, Johnson, and Hilfi it is only the poms that think we need an ordinary spinner to be like them.

POSTED BY
Sanga2014
on | January 20, 2013, 12:57 GMT

K K you says SL cant chace 200
but do you think 150 in 30 overs, 120 in 20 overs with a wet ball is going to be a harder task for any test playing nation?

POSTED BY
Danufur
on | January 20, 2013, 12:56 GMT

Sri Lanka can assume that they have already won the series. They should field a young side in the final ODI. Perhaps even a completely new 11. Aussie fans can talk trash... But everyone knows that they were dominated in the last 3 ODIs. Plus, Australian Cricket has never been known for sportsmanship. Other countries should simply to treating them in the same manner in return.

POSTED BY
King_Ravanaa
on | January 20, 2013, 12:48 GMT

@AMAZINGFAN... I'm not amazed by your pathetic comments against SL,, that's how low class indians are.. god this bully telling us we can't handle pace and bounce well, the same man's team got whitewashed in Australia against OZ last year, and did'nt even able to win single ODI against them.. is that team you talking about.... calling a SL Minnow the biggest joke of the century,.. pathetic indian....

and BTW do you remember about the 2008 test series, what australia did to you????

POSTED BY
Prabhash1985
on | January 20, 2013, 12:45 GMT

I have never heard a Pakistan fan saying "mightly Indians" :D Anybody can take any name... Be careful when commenting. You partially represent all Sri Lankans and can damage the friendship among Sri Lankan and Pakistan. Indians were very friendly in Azhar-Arjuna era. I don't know what really happened.

POSTED BY
Herath-UK
on | January 20, 2013, 12:45 GMT

Clarke was selfish to review his LBW thus robbing Warner the review he deserved.Warner would have given not out so next review Morses would also have given not out on review thus Clarke was responsible for those two outs.Where was his gamemanship exploiting his captaincy to call for his review.Sri Lanka have caused real panic in the Aussie camp.Humiliation on aussies looks far greater than test loss caused to Sri Lanka,I'm sure aussies are shaking in their boots with what to do in Hobart!
Ranil Herath - Kent

POSTED BY
LegB4wkt
on | January 20, 2013, 12:45 GMT

Aussie fans are trying so hard here to cover up one of the biggest frauds orchestrated by Cricket Australia. You are keep playing the same tape that SL couldn't have reach 222 coz they haven't exceeded 200 during the series. Its just coz we bowled you out under 200 in last 2 matches. And We wouldn't have required to chase 222 coz the target would have been 135 / 30 overs. My fellow SL fans complain about the incompetency of the staff. Guys, It wasn't their inability to do the job, Tey did it on purpose, In order to save Mr. Clarke from another humiliation. In SL , they cover the whole ground n get it ready for the play after heavy rains. I'm glad that even Indian fans can understand what really happened coz they also faced a similar situation regarding Harbajan a few yrs back. Is this how CA wanna play cricket ???? :(((

POSTED BY
King_Ravanaa
on | January 20, 2013, 12:43 GMT

AMAZINGFAN.. ohh here goes a Indian whinge again.. lol... he is talking about a his so called indian players(flat track bullies) who got thrashed in Australia by Australian in last CB series. who even doesn't able to win a single ODI against them, and a team, who got crushed by their own rivals paki's on their own backyard. Lol.. and even lost the test series against England...

and i'm not amazed by wishing Aus a win in next game by an Indian, LOL...remember what your second favourite team done to you in 2008 test series,in australia????

POSTED BY
AMAZINGFAN
on | January 20, 2013, 12:37 GMT

@sinhaya,this match was never in favour of sl and after seeing the way they chased 70odd runs last match it was always going to be difficult to chase more than 200....and look no one is jealous of sl because they haven't done anything great to get jealous,u want to show the trophy to india??well let me remind u that IND beat AUS in 2008 fair and square in cb series(players like hayden,gilly,symonds,ponting,huss were part of that series) and there was certain minnow(guess who) was also playing in that series...SL team is still vulnerable aganist pace and swing...we saw that in test series against aus....

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 20, 2013, 12:33 GMT

LOL, its the SLankans who wanted to leave the field, not Australia. Or didn't anybody actually watch the game? The SL batsmen were wiping their eyes as if they couldn't see properly and posturing to the umpires. The Aussies stood there, shaking their heads in disbelief. They didn't want a bar of leaving the field. They knew full well that they were in a great position to win the game in those conditions. So to suggest that there was some conspiracy by the Australian team is just pathetic. If Dilshan and co hadn't started whining the game would have continued. It was they who didn't want to play. Some SL fans might like to think about why that was the case.

POSTED BY
Sulaimaan91
on | January 20, 2013, 12:25 GMT

@TheBigBodha might be in the Tests but in ODIs, SL has performed far better vs Australia in Australia than the home team itself.The series in 2010, then during the last CB series, SL batted really well and scored more than 200-250 on a number of occasions with Brett Lee and co. in the side.So your argument doesnt stand any ground and looks a very feeble fightback from a fan whose team has been completely outplayed since the 1st ODI.First put a proper fight and then question the opposition, this would have been a cakewalk for SL had the shortened game resumed.The previous game SL just went mad at chasing 74 and lost wickets, nothing can be read into that single performance.

POSTED BY
Glory_Gilchrist
on | January 20, 2013, 12:25 GMT

I will be shocked if the rotation policy selectors don't call Shaun Marsh to the team for the final One Dayer and the T20 games. Marsh is in excellent form and deserves another chance.

POSTED BY
AMAZINGFAN
on | January 20, 2013, 12:24 GMT

AUS is my second favourite team after india but it's very sad to see an australian side with so many mediocre players....and they can't even handle bowlers like malinga and kula who had horrid time against ind....IND batsmen do struggle on seaming pitches but they played malinga and kula really well on all conditons....GOOD LUCK TO AUS FOR NEXT MATCH.....

POSTED BY
goodhoot
on | January 20, 2013, 12:19 GMT

Geez,thank the gods for Mitchell Starc,he looks to be the only one who batted today with any passion for his country,he showed some cricket nous by hitting out where the rest were hesitant.It's about time these other batsmen stood up and demonstrated why they were selected to play for their country.England will destroy us if we send that lot there for the ashes series

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 20, 2013, 12:18 GMT

Your constant whining about Clarke is only to be expected, @Joseph Langford. Maybe you wanted to see SL batting for 15 overs chasing 70 runs, but that would have been an abomination. @Truelankan I felt there was something fishy too. I mean, how can two different umpires posibly make the same gigantic mistake two overs in succession just before the batting powerplay when Australia was getting on top? Then calling the game off when SL had to score 223 runs in a series where they are yet to reach 200? The evidence is overwhelming. The officials had it in for Australia. Yes, agreed, this must be investigated by the ICC.

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 12:17 GMT

@ skilebow on (January 20 2013, 11:55 AM GMT) I am sorry i bored you, but i was just relaying the facts.

POSTED BY
on | January 20, 2013, 12:16 GMT

Eye witness the most pathetic umpiring decision ever...It wasn't a rain, it was a drizzling and ground staff did not cover the whole ground, they did not used a roller to dry out the ground just used a rope and took 1hr to do that. Umpires called off the game early, it was only 18 overs to go. This was just a set up to call off the match to survive Ausis from embrace...

POSTED BY
priceless1
on | January 20, 2013, 12:15 GMT

Very strange decision , abandoning a match after just 45 minutes of Rain, looks like the decision was made to save the Aussies from a humiliating defeat than anything else

POSTED BY
Essex_Man
on | January 20, 2013, 12:15 GMT

At least the rain put everyone out of their misery. Woeful stuff from two mediocre sides.

POSTED BY
ParryJ
on | January 20, 2013, 12:13 GMT

the recent debacles of top-middle order batsmen, be they India, Aussies or proteas show how important the dhonis and husseys are to a team line-up. Not only can they play as per the situation, they build up the innings and then take the fight back to the opposition team.DuPlesis is surely emerging as one in their feets.

POSTED BY
Meety
on | January 20, 2013, 12:09 GMT

Didn't see the game, but it appears Kulasekara was again a pain in the preverbial for Oz. Any genuine fan of cricket would want to see the right decisions being made, howlers must be eliminated from the game. Good work SL, I suspect Oz still fancied their chances.

POSTED BY
Damian123
on | January 20, 2013, 12:06 GMT

Its the best time for Sri Lanka to tour India. They can anhilate India! But I'm sure the BCCI is now looking for teams like Bangladesh or Zimbabwe. May be even Nepal!

POSTED BY
gsamiru
on | January 20, 2013, 12:04 GMT

Really disappointing ....... ! Why didn't the ground staff cover the rest of the field if SCG has such a shameful drainage system ......... Curiosity !!!!!!!!!

POSTED BY
wowsas
on | January 20, 2013, 12:02 GMT

poor decision to called off and poor ground staff. .in my country(SL) the ground staff cover the whle ground,every inch.but here sorry to say.if the game going on we will just have a little target to win according to D&L method. . .arround 150 runs for 40 overs because AUS hadn't a big partnership. . . . poor ausis. . . this is a black mark for gentlemen's game.the one of richest cricket country hasn't covers to cover the whle ground.but we should salute sl cricket and ground staff on every ground.

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 20, 2013, 12:00 GMT

Yes, I have to say that the fact that SL has been shielded from batting first on these spicier than usual pitches has helped them tremendously, and hidden their greatest weakness. They haven't scored 200 in the series yet (Australia has once and 300 once). The rain here tonight did exactly the same thing - stopped them from being exposed. Would have loved to have seen Johnson and Starc bowling the full 20 overs here in the wet. I suspect it would have been carnage. Would love to see SL bat first in Hobart if it is a bit dicey. Australia have been poor this series, but I'm not totally convinced by SL either. I think they have had an unusual amount of good fortune with umpiring, batting second and Australia's foolish rotation policy, and their shortcomings have not yet been fully exposed.

POSTED BY
skilebow
on | January 20, 2013, 11:55 GMT

rickyvoncanterbury - while i don't agree with Front-Foot-Lunge and Aus and SL are certainly not minnows. i'm getting rather bored of all this tit for tat squabbling on cricinfo. It seems to have been taken over by 5 year olds.
However, I will say that beating india in India on pitches that were taylor made for the indian team and losing 3 out of 4 tosses to boot is quite an achievement. anyone who knows anything about cricket would agree with this!

POSTED BY
Ozcricketwriter
on | January 20, 2013, 11:48 GMT

It was only drizzle, not full on rain, and they could have easily played through it. Even if they did have to come off, they only needed to be off for about 30 minutes, or about 8 overs. Sri Lanka should have come back out. The bizarre decision not to come back, and to call it off with an hour to go after it hadn't rained for an hour, and even when it did, not much, was just absurd. As for the match status, it was really too early to tell and Australia had an extra strong bowling line up who had reduced the same Sri Lankan batting side to 6/76 last match; so it was far from over. Absurd decision from the umpires robbed us of what looked like a tight match.

POSTED BY
Tumbarumbar
on | January 20, 2013, 11:46 GMT

What confuses me about the two umpiring mistakes is how the umpires believed the ball changed its behavior so suddenly from previous deliveries and without any pause to think about it shot their fingers in the air. A right hander bowling over the wicket suddenly manages to bowl an inswinger that breaks back at 30 degrees to a left hander and a slow bowler who is a master of flight, speed and drift, but doesn't turn the ball much, gets savage spin on one ball should tell an umpire something is amiss. That decision could spell the end of Henriques career - not that he should be there anyway.

POSTED BY
derpherp
on | January 20, 2013, 11:44 GMT

@ samgannon22 WROOONG!!!!!. Maybe where you are from but cricket is still the most watched sport in Australia and one of the most participated. I feel sorry for you Sri lankan folks. You only play one sport at an international level and yet you feel the younger generations have no interest in it....

POSTED BY
TrueLankan
on | January 20, 2013, 11:43 GMT

These events must be investigated by the ICC. I sense something fishy going on here. Anyways, was looking forward to the chase but how disappointing were the umpires to call it off. Sri Lankans should not comment on how we could of won since it is completely worthless. Although we seemed on top anything could of happened really.

POSTED BY
Stark62
on | January 20, 2013, 11:41 GMT

The conditions in SL are far worse, but yet the ground staff somehow manage to get the game underway!!

POSTED BY
R_U_4_REAL_NICK
on | January 20, 2013, 11:40 GMT

With Aus. only having 2 bowlers in Starc and McKay, SL could have scraped home here. Fantastic knock by Starc to bring Aus. up to a semi-competitive total, but with no recognised spinners and no proper wicket-keeper in the Aus. team, SL were firm favourites. Hughes test form has now crept into ODI's as well...

POSTED BY
on | January 20, 2013, 11:40 GMT

Terrible ...... just terrible!!!!

There is little wonder why this form of cricket is unpopular. When staring down a series defeat of a team that lost against Bangladesh last year, the Australian Captain takes the cowards option.

Michael Clarke was out today playing exactly the same shot to the same ball as in Brisbane .... it was just that he kept his bat and pad together. Then selfishly used the only review Australia had!!!

Stark saved Australia from its 3rd sub-200 ODI in a row. How many times must the bowlers do the job of the batsmen?? (Johnson in SA, Harris in WI) Batsmen aren't rotated!!! Batsmen aren't sacked!!! Well the Clarke-men aren't anyway ..... they sacked Michael Hussey without blinking after he finished with an average of over 100 against SL

POSTED BY
suve
on | January 20, 2013, 11:30 GMT

@ jmcilhinney: If you watched the 3.2 overs Australia bowled, there was no swing and the Sri lankan batsmen were very comfortable. If DRS was used Sri lanka would've needed only about 80-90 runs in the 17.4 overs to finish the game. Don't be fooled by the Channel 9 commentators when they say 180-200 is a winning score because they thought Aus would score nearly 300 when they were 50/1. In Brisbane the bounce troubled Sri lanka and Sri lanka batted agressively, thats why they lost 6 wickets. I respect your decision for saying Sri lanka may still have lost but in my opinion this was Sri lanka's game to if DRS was used.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 11:26 GMT

HuzsainFauz: Shorely your intelligent enough to work out that Front_Foot_lunge isnt an aussie, he has been bashing Australians for sometime. Its the same catchphrase he has used in every article, and its his efforts to refer to the Australians as minnows. And by the way Australia won the games that mattered last year and beat Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka so dont have a go at our one-day prowess. Sri Lanka havent made 200 all series and only just got there in a couple of tests so this game was by no means won. I wouldve favoured Australia from that position.

POSTED BY
PkZindabaad
on | January 20, 2013, 11:25 GMT

@sinhya and yorkslnka , even he was swinging the ball in Indian flat pitches and thrashed Indians mightly , then just imagine what Junaid khan can do to another 'flat track bullies' such as your team . Even the so-called international player Chandimal will find out soon. Oh god please save that young one from impending failure.

POSTED BY
Akheel
on | January 20, 2013, 11:19 GMT

hard Luck! SL was perfectly set to rap up the series today.Guess we'd wait till 23rd to set off the crackers, then.

POSTED BY
Rocketman1
on | January 20, 2013, 11:13 GMT

Calling off the game was a joke. It was not a torrential downpour, just a bit of drizzle. Last year the first final in Brisbane was played with consistent drizzle with the Aussies taking out the first game. Warner scored a big hundred and Kulasekera put on a little batting display at the end. Very suspicious to call it off so early. The lack of respect for people watching is disgraceful. They came to see cricket, not a rock concert.

POSTED BY
Hammond
on | January 20, 2013, 11:12 GMT

The weakest I have ever seen an Aussie side in my whole life. Don't know whether it is a symptom of T20 cricket or just a new and very impatient generation of young blokes. No-one is playing proper cricket shots anymore.

POSTED BY
CrICkeeet
on | January 20, 2013, 11:09 GMT

This is a very BAD EXAMPLE for cricket.. easily this match can b per4md.... bt now i'm afraid dat other HOME COUNTRIES will follow this
TRICKS.....

POSTED BY
jmcilhinney
on | January 20, 2013, 11:09 GMT

It wasn't a power outage that stopped the game, was it? ;-)

POSTED BY
OneEyedAussie
on | January 20, 2013, 11:09 GMT

So the fiasco of an ODI series against SL rolls on! I feel sorry for the spectators that paid good money to see the Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney games - and not because Australia didn't win - but rather because of the seemingly ceaseless blunders by officials and poor performances by players.

Bowled out for 74? A game cancelled after 45 mins of rain? Bits and pieces players selected ahead of our best players? I'm pinching myself to wake up! How long can this total disrespect for the paying public continue?

POSTED BY
Cricinbest
on | January 20, 2013, 11:07 GMT

Can we see ICC take some action over this so called WORLD RENOWNED GROUND SCG for abandoning a match due to rain and having left more play-time? We saw in Sri Lanka, even after heavy showers the ground staff prepared the ground playable.

POSTED BY
jmcilhinney
on | January 20, 2013, 11:03 GMT

It's very easy for SL fans (or biased "neutrals") to say that they would have won this game but the hard work they made of the chase in the last game belies that. I think that this game was very much in the balance and could have provided an exciting spectacle. At least for SL this means that they can't now lose the series but I'm sure that they will be looking to put it away in the last game and I won't be surprised if they do.

POSTED BY
samgannon22
on | January 20, 2013, 11:01 GMT

Let's face it. Cricket is almost irrelevant as a sport these days. Gen Y has no time for it. No future

POSTED BY
_Australian_
on | January 20, 2013, 10:55 GMT

@Front-Foot-Lunge. Enjoy it while it lasts. But nothing is more weak than kicking someone when they are down. We will win the ashes again. Hopefully very soon, then you can log on to something else every day. There is nothing wrong with having a dig, but I, and I am sure others, are tiring of reading the same jokes. Time to come up with something new.

POSTED BY
on | January 20, 2013, 10:52 GMT

@front-foot-lounge- typical Aussie arrogance. Calling SL a minnow, you must have no clue. They are probably the best one day side along with SA.
Aussie has had a pathetic recent record against SL. This match was definitely there to be won, it's funny how the match got abandoned in less than 2hrs of rain.
The series could have ended 4-1. I really don't see the Aussies usurping SL now, there confidence is dented and SL are riding high.

POSTED BY
likeintcricket
on | January 20, 2013, 10:51 GMT

Sri Lankan's are a good side but Australians are certainly not performing like they used to be. Their batting becomes a joke after Mike Hussey's retirement. Infect it was only Clarke who stood against a white wash with South Africa and his own confidence has gone down after the rotation. I have seen some very good fast swinging bowling in Australia but the Australian batsman was always come good against any bowling. During the Taylor time they had Taylor, Slatter, Jones, Boon, Langer, Mark waugh and steve waugh plus Healy and off course Ponting. Currently England's fast bowling are better than Sri Lankan's and they can easily thrashed this Australian side if they control Clarke.

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 10:49 GMT

@ Front-Foot-Lunge on (January 20 2013, 10:10 AM GMT) Just yesterday when England got flogged again you said 50 over games where a waste of time, but anyway good old Sri Lanka and Australia may be minnows, but we are on the way up, the last thing any TRUE cricket supporter would suggest is that England or India are on the up, the only test victory England can boast about is beating India and who cannot boast that, and the only victory of note for India is beating England in the 50 over variety, lets not talk about the early exits of England or India from the 20/20 tournament.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 10:48 GMT

HycIass - As for Khawaja until he is entrenched in the test team I think that should be his focus. We have plenty of guys that can play oneday cricket at the same standard.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 10:48 GMT

@ShehanJ, as if what are the comments if rain came to save Sri Lanka?? Admit it that we are leading the series 2-1 without giving excuses.

@AMAZINGFAN, so jealous of Sri Lanka leading the series 2-1? Yeah dont think India are great when you all are playing the England B team or C team at the moment.

POSTED BY
AidanFX
on | January 20, 2013, 10:47 GMT

Terrrible decision by the umpires, terrible. CA/ ICC should step in and give a warning to the umpires today for unnecessarily calling off play. A game should only be callled off if both captains agree the pitch/ ground is too unsafe to play. It appears both parties felt the ground was in good enough nic to play.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 10:45 GMT

HycIass Yeah i would prefer Cutting, Christian or Faulkner to Henriques. Heniques needs to consistenly bowl 10 overs for NSW in Pura Cup games for me to consider him. As for the top order - I stll dont mind the current team and would think Finch is next in. Bailey looked good in Adelaide and here. I would have Bailey at 3, Clarke at 4 and Hussey at 5. This has been an unusual series, usually one-dayers completely suit the batsman with little movement. I admit there has been a lot in the last 3 games and the batsman arent at 100% but they all have showed at times there quality. Think we are really missing Watto as opening bat and bowling 10 overs. Then we could push everyone down one.

POSTED BY
Herath-UK
on | January 20, 2013, 10:44 GMT

What a panic by the aussies; if both captains insisted,the umpires would have given in for play but Clarke panicked as with a shorter game the Sri Lankans would have won easily.What great show was on view with fast & furious malinga and art of swing from Kula giving lesson or two to the rest of the world on aussy pitches.The Sri Lankan crowd was fantastic & was wondering whether this is Pallekele or Premadasa with sinhala old hits making merry!
Ranil Herath - Kent

POSTED BY
rezmata
on | January 20, 2013, 10:43 GMT

D Hussy will be hoping that Malinga will give him tips on how to face Malinga. He's will be that desparate in order to keep his place in the side now. Only thing keepin him is the there ain't any Aussie talent in the sheds to take his place. Soo many Aussie players are soo overrated. There's even talks that Stark is an genuine all rounder! ROTFL....

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 20, 2013, 10:42 GMT

Gotta laugh at the SL fans. After being gifted two wickets by the umpires and Australia being robbed of probably 50 runs in their innings, they now believe there is a conspiracy against them. Personally, I would have put my money on Australia in these conditions. SL are notoriously poor against pace in seaming conditions. Would have loved to have seen Mitch Johnson out there in the wet. Suggesting you were guaranteed a win is delusional. SL haven't scored 220 runs the entire series, by the way. It is Australia that had the run of poor luck in this game, robbed of a very good chance to win the game by poor umpiring and bad weather.

POSTED BY
Prabhash1985
on | January 20, 2013, 10:42 GMT

This was a match we could have won easily, and bag the trophy quite easily. Unfortunate for Sri Lanka.

POSTED BY
Junikamra
on | January 20, 2013, 10:42 GMT

aussies will be joyed with this result now atleast they can draw the series which is very unlickly by the performance this team is showing.. on a flat deck hughes score century on that base he is playing in the team nd how capable he is in seeming condition nd against good quality bwlng you all have seen.. david hussey look like a club cricketer driving the ball way out side off stump.. if this team can't play kulasekra then i don't think they can handle anderson in ashes who has much more pace nd accuracy then kulasekra.. people have said that sydney will be a flat pitch nd aus score 350 nd thrash srilanka if this is the performance on flat pitch then what will they do on seeming pitch 100 or 150??? sorry to say the player who has clarke nd team management support they are playing in the team nd those who have no support are out.. some thing is wrong in aussies selection they have to do rite otherwise they have a very poor year waiting in front of them..

POSTED BY
CrICkeeet
on | January 20, 2013, 10:40 GMT

AUS is very lucky......hoping 4 a last match thrillar

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 10:40 GMT

Front_Foot-Lunge; You've stuffed up with your Bradman_The_Greatest pseudonymn before by posting the pathetic rantings of yourself. Dont pretend to be an Aussie in whatever your trying to accomplish. Then as yourself you referred to rain constantly saving the AUssies, name one time - South Africa managed to draw the recent series through rain and the last tour of England would have been a draw had it not been rain in Cardiff. Anyway, Sri Lanka in all the test matches and one-day matches have barely got over 200 - so 220 was a lock always going to be Australias game.

POSTED BY
Herath-UK
on | January 20, 2013, 10:39 GMT

What a panic by the aussies; if both captains insisted,the umpires would have given in for play but Clarke panicked as with a shorter game the Sri Lankans would have won easily.What great show was on view with fast & furious malinga and art of swing from Kula giving lesson or two to the rest of the world on aussy pitches.The Sri Lankan crowd was fantastic & was wondering whether this is Pallekele or Premadasa with sinhala old hits making merry!
Ranil Herath - Kent

POSTED BY
yorkslanka
on | January 20, 2013, 10:37 GMT

@pkzinabaad- whilst ur fully entitled to your opinions the stats on chandimal beg to differ.he has scored hundreds against India (in zim) England (lords),92* v SA ( in SA) , and 80& 73 v aus ( in aus) all within two and a half years of debut in odi's and don't forget he is only 23 years old ..he is one of the future stars of Sri Lanka , mark my word my friend...

POSTED BY
Rom1966
on | January 20, 2013, 10:36 GMT

So in the modern era the SCG cannot cope with drizzle. Pathetic. Feel sorry for the crowd. This should not happen at international venues. If the rain was torrential I could understand .

POSTED BY
Dravid_Pujara_Gravitas
on | January 20, 2013, 10:35 GMT

Around 50 minutes of rain (not a downpour by any stretch of imagination) and the match gets called-off 1 hour after the rain stopped. Something doesn't look right to me. This needs to be probed further and the evidence of dampness needs to be gathered now, before it's too late. SCG has such a poor drainage? I won't buy it. Something is really fishy here.

POSTED BY
RednWhiteArmy
on | January 20, 2013, 10:33 GMT

Hard luck SL. You would have definately wrapped the series up today, we all know that, but now you must wait a few more days to lift the trophy. The only real hope australia have is if the whole SL team is struck down by food poisioning or something.

POSTED BY
Stymie
on | January 20, 2013, 10:33 GMT

The best thing about the '74' game was that it added some interest to what was otherwise a miserably boring series. One thing that has come out of this is that Oz will doubtless continue to have issue with the moving ball during the Ashes - bear witness to Hughes' effort today.

POSTED BY
Daneem
on | January 20, 2013, 10:32 GMT

The ICC really need to investigate what has happened here. This is a disgrace, everyone (apart from the Australian Cricket Team of course) thought they could play out there, the decision to call the game off so early despite a long time without rain is atrocious. Cricket Australia need to be brought to account for this decision, many games of cricket have been played in much worse conditions.

What a farce.

POSTED BY
Hewa1234
on | January 20, 2013, 10:32 GMT

Terrible call by the umpires to call the game off, Once it make the game shorter Sri Lanka definitely winning. How come umpires delay the game without starting it. Question is who actually wanted to delay the game, They even do not worry about the fans, We had seen lot of games played after heavy rain & with support of new machines. Really disappointed.

POSTED BY
Ruchiralk
on | January 20, 2013, 10:32 GMT

This is insane by the Umpires, Think about all those people who stayed behind. Richie Benaud goes on about how all the Australian Ground curators and ground staff are the best in the world, but they lack the knowledge to cover a cricket field with covers when it rains baffles me. Woke up at 4am to watch the cricket and umpires have completley ruined my day. In Sri lanka even our domestic cricket grounds have full covers but the Sydney Cricket ground doesn't, Useless. I really think Sri lanka had a chance to win the game and series here but now the series might be levelled, if they lose in Hobart.

POSTED BY
dizzay
on | January 20, 2013, 10:31 GMT

At least the umpires were consistently horribly wrong. Id say there will be a fair proportion of the crowd who will now never go to an ODI match again, very poor endorsement for our struggling game.

POSTED BY
shohag23
on | January 20, 2013, 10:30 GMT

I have no doubt that Srilanka would have lost the match because they have lack of consistency like Bangladesh.Srilankan bowling and fielding was poor.They haven't restricted Australia in 220.Australians themselves did.All of the Srliankan bowlers bowled outside of the leg stamp as well as short ball to all the left handers like Warner,Wade or Starc.

POSTED BY
ashguru123
on | January 20, 2013, 10:29 GMT

OHHHHH NO<<< do u remember 2007 world cup?heavy rain was treat that day..bt ausi players and grounf stuff not gave up...they wanna play that match...if ausi going to win...umpire will change this decision...WORST called!its will change the series result!

POSTED BY
amilag
on | January 20, 2013, 10:29 GMT

Rain save ausies...AMAZINGFAN look at your indian mediocre team before comment others.They are struggling to beat poor one day team like england in home conditions! They would never able to win if past and bounce pitch given in outside subcontinent.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 10:28 GMT

@PkZindabaad, I am surprised to see a Pakistani fan look at Sri Lanka like you. Just look at Chandimal's scores in Australia, England and South Africa in tests and ODIs before talking nonsense! Chandimal is upto international standard indeed. He must improve his record in Asia and it should happen before too long. He is well established in the side.

@AMAZINGFAN, stop being jealous of Sri Lanka leading the series. Of course keep giving excuses about toss. Fact is we are leading the series 2-1. We have beaten Australia in 9 out of the last 15 ODIs between Sri Lanka and Australia in Australia with 1 being abandoned out of that lot!

POSTED BY
yorkslanka
on | January 20, 2013, 10:26 GMT

What a disappointing decision to call the game off !! I would have fancied our chances knocking off this total but if's and but's don't make results..
@thebigboodha- bit unrealistic saying we had all the luck mate,yes the decisions of Warner n henriques favoured us but the other seven wickets?
Shame we didn't get the chance to take the series today despite me getting up at 4am here in England to watch (grr) but hopefully we can win he last game and take the series.good luck SL
P.s top marks for the coca cola girls by the way, great viewing ;-)

POSTED BY
Deathracer
on | January 20, 2013, 10:25 GMT

Modern cricket is getting shitty by the day!!..It is all about money, money and more money for these modern cricketers. Most they interested in playing international leagues and themselves. A little drizzle made this match canceled!!I mean really??!!..

I never expected Sri Lanka to win however today there was a hint of chance to wrap the series up but seems Aussies stopped it because it would have been on the records.

Now since I know about SL team well, obviously the final match will be won by Australia and there by draw the series!! Feel bad about the people who came to watch. Aussi or SL, they came for entertainment but they only got disappointment!! Shame on you!!

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 10:24 GMT

@ AMAZINGFAN on (January 20 2013, 09:45 AM GMT) 2 good days against a very ordinary England does not make India better than Sri lanka, there is 8 points difference between with Sri Lanka playing a much tougher opponent.

POSTED BY
on | January 20, 2013, 10:24 GMT

to amazing fan, what game were you watching, clarkey failed AGAIN

POSTED BY
ShehanJ
on | January 20, 2013, 10:22 GMT

The match has been abandoned due to rain, and now we will be in for a barrage of comments of how SL would have wrapped up the series in 40 overs with Dilshan and Mahela scoring two centuries and winning by 10 wickets if not for the intervention by rain. :)

POSTED BY
ozziespirit
on | January 20, 2013, 10:18 GMT

Once again our batting line up sends a clear as day signal: We're not going to win the Ashes. For at least the next 4 years. England are the superior team, are too good for us in conditions like these. Back-toback Ashes series are going to be fun to watch then...

POSTED BY
lukecannon
on | January 20, 2013, 10:16 GMT

Okay. ICC officials please take action against cricket Australia . 45 minutes of rain and the match called off. Unbelieavavle. SL has been robbed of a victory and a series victory. Absolutely pathetic.

POSTED BY
Perera32
on | January 20, 2013, 10:15 GMT

Sydney Cricket ground doesn't have the resources to dry out some drizzle sounds a little fishy to me. Especially with 2.5 hours still left till the shedule end of the game. Umpires Rifel and Erasmus made two shockers, so they must've thought they need to abandon the match to hide behind their poor umpiring. If Sri lanka batted again, then they would've easily won the game as there was no swing for the aussie quicks in the first 3 overs. This seems unfair to me, if the Aussies win in Hobart then they've robbed a Series win of Sri lanka.

POSTED BY
Solace1
on | January 20, 2013, 10:12 GMT

See even the rain gods didn't want us to humiliate australia again in front of their own crowd, anyway i hope the next match is also washed off so that we can show our trophy to india

POSTED BY
Front-Foot-Lunge
on | January 20, 2013, 10:10 GMT

Australia, yet again, are saved by the rain. There have been so many times over the years the rain has come to Australia's aid, whether it be to save an Ashes test match against England or, as now, trying to save the match against a Minnow team like Sri Lanka. The competition for 6th or 7th best in the world, or as many fondly know it as "The New Year Minnow Big Bash" is a good on. Australia batting was standard for them, Sri lanka's attack performed above it s mean again today. What a fascinating series.

POSTED BY
jmcilhinney
on | January 20, 2013, 10:10 GMT

In a recent Coke commercial on Australian TV, Mitchell Starc jokingly referred to himself as a #3 batsman. He seems to be playing like one these days. Australia has quite a few good young quicks, injuries aside, and quite a number of them seem to be rather handy with the bat. Certainly not a bad thing. A shame this game was abandoned as it was nicely poised, with Australia achieving a decent but not great score and SL looking capable but by no means certain to achieve it.

POSTED BY
KGY27
on | January 20, 2013, 10:09 GMT

Why didn't the umpires leave the decision to play to the captains? Australia would have defended 220 in Sydney. I wonder if they have ever thought about having an umpiring DRS? When it's clear the umpires have made an error, the third umpire can over rule lol!!!! Some absolute howlers today from the umpires. It's a shame to take the opportunity away from Australia who fought and today. Now only one team can win the series.

POSTED BY
Mary_786
on | January 20, 2013, 10:09 GMT

Game abandoned, and lucky break for us. Bring on Hobart where we will level the series. Clarkey said that the top order failures are not good enough in his post match interview and I hope that's cue for new players to come in i.e Khawaja as 3 failures in 3 games is simply not good enough.

POSTED BY
suve
on | January 20, 2013, 10:09 GMT

This is absolutley pathetic from the Umpires, this was Sri lanka's game to win. It only rained for 2 hours, I've seen matches where it rained for more than 4 hours and they still played. Just because the umpires had 2 wrong decisions, they didn't want the media and the public to blame them, so called no result. Rubbish

POSTED BY
on | January 20, 2013, 10:07 GMT

to amazing fan, what game were you watching, clarkey failed AGAIN

POSTED BY
hycIass
on | January 20, 2013, 10:05 GMT

Terrible call by the umpires to call the game off, feel sorry for the folks in the ground who stayed back, there was no rain and the ground was dry enough to play, though we are lucky we got away as Sri Lanka would have taken the game away in a shorter chase.

POSTED BY
Perera32
on | January 20, 2013, 9:57 GMT

@TheBigBoodha: I wouldn't say Sri lanka have had all the luck (except for the 2 inside edges LBW's). The amount of plays and misses, outside edges and Inside edges Australia had in their innings could've had them all out for less than 200 even if the LBW's were rightly given. But it happens in Cricket all the time and you have to move on. Overall Sri lanka bowled very well again and If the Rain stops, they should chase this total down.

POSTED BY
AMAZINGFAN
on | January 20, 2013, 9:45 GMT

this sl team is just mediocre but aus made them look like a world beaters...clarke shud have fielded first in this game since LOT OF SL BATSMEN ARE FLAT TRACK BULLIES and they wud have struggled to make even 50 on this pitch....if u take clarke out of this aus team then aus will definitely struggle to win even against bangladesh.....

POSTED BY
PkZindabaad
on | January 20, 2013, 9:42 GMT

srilanka doen't have the batting power to overhaul the target. its a joke to consider Chandumal as a international player. But I hope on thirimannee. I expect australia to win this match as this score out of reach of the srilankans

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 9:40 GMT

@ by Biggus on (January 20 2013, 09:29 AM GMT) Interesting observations. did we make the Saffers look better than they are, or did they make us look better ???

POSTED BY
Slesh
on | January 20, 2013, 9:36 GMT

now tell that umpire decision,toss,rain cost u guys the series..u cant accept that when it comes to ODIs SL are way better than current Aus team..get the facts right!

POSTED BY
Biggus
on | January 20, 2013, 9:29 GMT

@syed.r.karim-I think SL are a useful team but I also think we Aussies are making them look better than they are, just like they did with us in the tests. Neither team is particularly good IMO, and well behind SA and ENG overall.

POSTED BY
TheBigBoodha
on | January 20, 2013, 9:22 GMT

Well, too bad about the rain. I really thought that SL would struggle to get 220 on this surface. SL have really had the luck run their way this game. DLS will pretty much hand it to them if the delay is too long. Makes Clarke's decision to bat all the more inexplicable. Why would he bat first on the 3rd consecutive seaming wicket with good humidity, after what happened the previous two games? SL are notoriously suspect in such conditions, yet have been effectively shielded from them all series. It really is frustrating. SL would very likely not have posted a competitive score in any of the past three games if they had batted first, and Australia would be on top of them mentally. Instead the reverse has been allowed to happen.Won't comment about those umpiring decisions as they speak for themselves. Probably cost Australia the game and m/b the series.

POSTED BY
NAP73
on | January 20, 2013, 9:13 GMT

By the way, I notice every team seems to appeal when they know it is not out (ie a nick). Should we have some kind of 'stick' to remove this from the game, though the fine system doesn't seem to help much with the over rate?
I don't want everyone turning into Warney who was just non-stop (couldn't stand it). It is almost as bad as Sharapova's grunting.

POSTED BY
syed.r.karim
on | January 20, 2013, 9:04 GMT

Sri lanka looking most complete team now. They got good fast blower, good swim blower, good spinner, couple of good all-rounder, good experience bats man, good wicket kipping all-rounder, good new talented bats man for future prospect under good captain. Could you find any thing less in the team??

POSTED BY
hycIass
on | January 20, 2013, 8:59 GMT

@Shaggy076 i think Christian or Faulkner are worth looking at, both have good domestic records. And don't know about you but the top order for the last 3 games has looked shaky, surely its time to give Usman another crack, can't drop the dude after 1 game and I now you believe him to be a test only player(and i agree that he is a future test star) but I have watched his Ryobi innings this year and he is a very good player in the shorter format too and is third on the Ryobi run standings behind Hughes and Finch.

POSTED BY
KhanMitch
on | January 20, 2013, 8:47 GMT

Starc's was starting to get the swing back into the batsman but that wasn't stopping Dilshan from swinging his blade. A couple of misses later, Starc's was still having a word with the Sri Lankan opener, I love the banter. Also my problem with taking those decisions out of the players' hand is that for one, how do the umpires decide on whether or not they need to be referred? For instance, in both these LBWs, the on-field umpires looked confident in giving those decisions and the only way they would look to go to the third umpire is by looking at the batsmen's reactions. This will encourage batsmen to keep looking disappointed and the umpires to keep going to the third umpire? Will definitely slow the game down, especially when it is a 50-50 call. And for the calls to get Khawaja back in, yes no doubt about it, the last 3 collapses show that a batsman such as Khawaja is crucial for the team, aggressive and can handle swing bowling.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 8:43 GMT

HycIass - I agree with you on the all-rounder issue. I think we need someone who can comfortably bowl 10 overs and is dangerous throughout an innings rather than Henriques and Maxwell who dont look comfortable with bat or ball.

POSTED BY
Tal_Botvinnik
on | January 20, 2013, 8:39 GMT

What awful commentary, can't they has two channels with one channel commentating on the behalf of sl viewers and the other being channel 09
the commentators go silent when there is a wicket and jubilant when there is a 4 or 6
Tony Greig,Tom Moody we miss u

POSTED BY
Tal_Botvinnik
on | January 20, 2013, 8:35 GMT

If this Match is Washed out then no chance for AUS to win the series. Only SL can then. So start praying for the rain to stop you ozzies

POSTED BY
NAP73
on | January 20, 2013, 8:28 GMT

No need to change UDRS rules (though everyone should have them in tests for consistency), just better umpires and Clarke performing (incl in reviews) rather than holding back the team?
P.S. Rugby is boring and rightly turning into a backwater in Oz (do not see many entertaining tries in the big games any more); perhaps they should give incremental bonus points for each try? Sub fielder rules were a joke everywhere and it has changed for the better. Don't believe
Oz want overseas rules changing (wouldn't help them regardless).
Perhaps Oz can stop this unhealthy obsession with sport (we are too small for starters) and concentrate on labour productivity. Back to work...

POSTED BY
Biggus
on | January 20, 2013, 8:14 GMT

@greatshinwari-You couldn't have got it more wrong. CA is not 'taking revenge' at Mike Hussey for retiring, they've taken the pragmatic decision to use an ODI series where not much is at stake to blood new players, but don't let me spoil your paranoid fantasies.......

POSTED BY
2one
on | January 20, 2013, 8:07 GMT

SL will win the series!!.But this match they will loose due to last pairs contribution to the score card.MJ you have to be more tactical.Think if Dhoni was in this position he will not allow the OZs to score more then 170. Now atleast focus your teams batting line up which is shaky including you captain.Hope you wont open the innings atleast we can watch others staying at the wickect, or they will follow you to the dressing room.>>>>

POSTED BY
rickyvoncanterbury
on | January 20, 2013, 8:05 GMT

@ RednWhiteArmy on (January 20 2013, 07:34 AM GMT) Its funny When the poms are getting smashed by India, its 50 over waste of time, all the boys want to do is go home, if Root continues this form we will be competitive in the future, yet you all still cannot help yourselfs, you will watch the Aussies play 50 over cricket with no whinging about DRS, have a read of the whinging from the poms about KP being given out (the end of world cricket as we know it).

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 8:00 GMT

@supadupamonk, you are correct. I also wish to say that Sri Lanka has a very good test record in Pakistan winning 6 tests there in contrast to just 2 test wins by India in Pakistan, which happened in 2004. But Sri Lanka has ZERO tests wins in India. That depends on the mind.

Another good example is Hashim Amla who has an excellent average against England, India and Australia but not Sri Lanka where in the 5 tests he has played against us, he averages just 25 which is poor by his standards. That too against a mediocre test bowling attack like ours. Mike Hussey averages over 100 against us but does not have a good average against West Indies in tests. Rahul Dravid the maestro has a poor test batting average of 27.05 in the 11 tests he played in Sri Lanka. Kohli has a fantastic ODI average against SL but not against Pakistan. Yes so it is all down to the minds of the players. Good luck to India too.

POSTED BY
Edwards_Anderson
on | January 20, 2013, 7:58 GMT

Yep MattRogers and Mitty, time to stop forcing the all rounder issue and put another batsmen in i.e Khawaja who is a brilliant player in bowler friendly conditions, the tail can fend for itself. David Husey's footwork against swing bowling looks very shaky and not good signs for him for test selection. Nice total, Oz have got this I reckon, thanks in the main to Starc's awesome effort.

POSTED BY
Jayzuz
on | January 20, 2013, 7:47 GMT

Well, pretty much as expected. In employing the rotation policy, the team is playing like a rabble of mercenaries, momentum has been handed back to the opposition and there is general chaos. You can't run a team like this. Having said, that Australia would have posted 250+ if not for those bizarre umpiring decisions. I mean those weren't snicks onto the pads, they were massive, full-blooded edges that everybody watching could see and hear. So why were they given out? Why did SL even appeal for the Warner LBW? I mean, IMHO they should have withdrawn the appeal, it was so obviously not out. Then Henriqies? All just before the batting power play, where Warner would have smashed the attack all over the place. Instead they crawled along at 2 runs an over. Cost Australia 40+ runs. Hope SL get several howlers in their innings too.

POSTED BY
greatshinwari
on | January 20, 2013, 7:45 GMT

i think the game is still in favour of aussies ...they have a stong bowling attack with the best fielding side..i hope that they will play in decider on 23rd in hobart...if srilanka wins then aussie team should be all dropped for the last odi....

POSTED BY
hycIass
on | January 20, 2013, 7:45 GMT

I'm with you on this Mitty and MattRogers…I'd prefer to have a bowler who can bat a bit, than an all-rounding batsman who bowls a few overs of non-threatening deliveries. I know Pattinson can bat a bit, and Starc is becoming much more confident with the bat. I wouldn't consider them all-rounders - they are primarily bowlers who can bat a bit. Still, it shouldn't be up to them - the top order needs to step up and we need Khawaja and Hughes firing in the top order but for that to happen Khawaja needs to be given a gong, bit rough to drop the follow after 1 game.

POSTED BY
greatshinwari
on | January 20, 2013, 7:40 GMT

its too sad that CA dropped M.hussey bkz he suddenllly announced his retirement...they are taking revenge from Mr.cricket...the result is in front of every one...in each game their batting collapses.....miss u mr cricket..

POSTED BY
JimmyDean
on | January 20, 2013, 7:40 GMT

My my my what a game from Starky. This might just save the game for Aus and level t.he series @ 2 - 2. Please, please do not sit Starky out anymore. He has been a top player for Aussie since T20 WC, also for Sydney Sixers in SA and has been very consistent in Aus team for this Summer.

POSTED BY
Mary_786
on | January 20, 2013, 7:34 GMT

The question has to be asked, why are the selectors wasting time on second rate allrounders (like Henriques and Maxwell) when Siddle, Starc, Cutting, Pattinson and Johnson can all bat well and make 50 every now and then?We don't need to waste time on all rounders who are not ready for the top level such as Maxwell, our 4 bowlers can bat well and what we need is solid top order batsman, how Khawaja was dropped after 1 game is beyond me, he would have been brilliant again in bowler friendly conditions. Good score to defend on that pitch, I think the chase will be hard.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 7:34 GMT

Wally67 - The test players could just play shield cricket to ready themselves where they get the opportunity to bat for lengthy periods. I cant see much value in using one-day cricket to prepare us for a test series.

POSTED BY
RednWhiteArmy
on | January 20, 2013, 7:34 GMT

Now some aussie fans want the UDRS rules changing? Funny how whenever australia starts losing, they want to change the rules. When they lost the rugby world cup final to England in 2003 they wanted the points for drop goals reducing cos of jonny wilkinson. then they wanted the sub fielder rules changing in the 2005 ashes. then in in 2009 ashes they want the rules regarding oversea's players changing (although they have done their fair share of that). now its 'warner got screwed, change the UDRS rules'.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 7:32 GMT

For the DRS going ahead I think they need a 3rd Umpire in complete charge of when it is used. Leave captains out of it - If everyoone thought Clarke's was a bad choice to use, well Jayawardena was a stinker. The captains are not using it in the intent it was meant.

POSTED BY
spiritwithin
on | January 20, 2013, 7:32 GMT

well played SL,hoping to see SL win the match and with it the series

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | January 20, 2013, 7:30 GMT

A lot of people saying the Clarke dismissal was obviously out, in the past I have seen that one given Not Out on many occasions. Well forward, swinging ball - not sure how the umpire could have been 100% assured that was going to hit the stumps. The TV generation see it as an obvious dismissal but on a Saturday game I would certainly give that one Not Out. As for the DRS should be used for howlers, yes thats what it should be introduced every captain does not use it in that manner. As well as a lot of 50/50 that the decision has been changed I think all batsman are going to have a crack at that one.

POSTED BY
sipunjohn
on | January 20, 2013, 7:28 GMT

well am a indian fan but cant controll myself on commenting on strarcs batting.welldone fella. strac mustplay up the order that he desrves. btw this match is now bundled for aussies. srilanka cant chase it for sure..

POSTED BY
on | January 20, 2013, 7:27 GMT

why no chandimal???he scored 73 at the 1st ODI

POSTED BY
Rukhshan786
on | January 20, 2013, 7:16 GMT

SL gonna loose the series for sure now.

POSTED BY
Tal_Botvinnik
on | January 20, 2013, 7:13 GMT

@21tu Kushal in this time. Good thranga is out
we have massive batting depth ( 5 batsmen,3 allrouders,tail who can bat a bit)and aus lacks bowling depth (starc,johnson,clint are the only obstacles)Also Dilshan,Dinesh,Kusal,Lahiru on form as well

POSTED BY
yorkslanka
on | January 20, 2013, 7:12 GMT

Well batted starc, that might just be the innings that saved your teams series..time will tell but fantastic effort..have watched him play for Yorkshire and you could see he is a genuine all rounder. We need to bat sensibly and aim to bat 50 overs...hopefully in this match our batsmen will improve their shot selection and better use of their brains to bring us the series...good luck SL

POSTED BY
Dhutugemunu
on | January 20, 2013, 7:12 GMT

@ 21tu ; Kushal has not dropped. He's playing as a Batsmen. Tharanga was dropped to take Chandimal in.

I could not believe that Clarke has used DRS for his benefit as it is perfectly clear he was out. If that haven't happened Warner could have stayed. Good bowling by kulasekar but he is nowhere close to new sensation Junaid Khan. I still believe aus can thrash the mediocre Srilankan batting line up.

POSTED BY
bamp
on | January 20, 2013, 7:04 GMT

haha mitchell starc's oddi batting average is as good as M. Hussey and Dhoni.

POSTED BY
RoJayao
on | January 20, 2013, 6:50 GMT

Sri Lanka may yet lose this match, especially if they bat as badly as they did the other night in the ugliest successful chase I've seen! But it would only serve to cover up some rotten planning and execution by Australia which has me very nervous about the tours this year. Try this exercise to get what I mean: pick a 16 or 17 man squad for India and England. Can't pick 8 decent batsmen, let alone a second spinner? Certainly can't on figures this year.

POSTED BY
RoJayao
on | January 20, 2013, 6:43 GMT

All things aside: unbelievable incompetence by umpires, a truly hopeless DRS, a very sporting pitch, more excellent bowling from Kula and Malinga; this truly must be close to the dumbest Australian team we've fielded! Maybe on talent they're well short of previous teams, in fact they definitely are, but in terms of cricket smarts, fair dinkum, there's a few tracking well short! Selectors included I might add. The bowlers are shading the batsmen for brain power and guts, and that says something!

POSTED BY
disco_bob
on | January 20, 2013, 6:36 GMT

With regards to DRS we have to pity the poor spectators who were probably about to see Warner let loose only to have what would have been a competitive match all but ruined by two absurd howlers..

POSTED BY
21tu
on | January 20, 2013, 6:32 GMT

SL did a blunder by leaving Kushal out.He is presently in form and if SL batsmen are sliding in todays match its Mahels biggest mistake.SL should have droped Hearath and taken Chandimal.You cant predict SL batting line.This is what happes to SL cricket...When a pleyer is in peak period they ignore him.Stupid MJ.you are a good captain but not a good decesion maker.Better you go out of the team.OZ selectors should drop Hughes and give another oppertunity to Khawaja.Sorry OZ its not your series this time.Hight time to prepare you self of Indian and Ashes series ahead.

POSTED BY
supadupamonk
on | January 20, 2013, 6:31 GMT

@Rise-of-Sinhaya: I agree with u for some extent, if ur team can beat Aus in their own backyard u deserved to win the series but only thing is ur team struggles against India...it surprises me to think that SL stuggles against Ind but easily wins against Aus on the other hand Ind stuggles agains Auss but wins against SL..i guess its all in the mind of the players...anyhow gud luck to ur team....

POSTED BY
KajuWaththaEksath
on | January 20, 2013, 6:26 GMT

At the beginning of the ODI series Australia under estimated the Sri Lankan team based on the test series and they tried to make an impression to the world that they are very smart by resting key players. That's a big mistake Australia did since they took that decision by evaluating the SL performance based on the test series.Complete different formats of the game.Now Australia in a big pressure and some how they need to win the game today. This is a good lesson for all the teams not to under estimate any team and always try to play the best team they have.

POSTED BY
supadupamonk
on | January 20, 2013, 6:24 GMT

so Aussies weakness exposed after Hussey's departure...

POSTED BY
heathrf1974
on | January 20, 2013, 6:19 GMT

The DRS was implemented to prevent howlers, hence players should only use the DRS when they know if it's out or not out. Clarke made a selfish blunder.

POSTED BY
Wally67
on | January 20, 2013, 6:14 GMT

Credit must go to Sri Lanka as they are playing well. But looking to the Ashes series, Australia must star preparing, immediately, and in the one day series against WI. Swing friendly itches must continued to be prepred, then select our top 6 or 7 batsmen, which do not include D Hussey, Bailey and Henriques. Play then in all games against the WI. Warner, Cowan, Clarke, Hughes, Kawaja, Watson and ??.Wade must bat at 7. Even though the Indian tour will not be the ideal preparartion for the Poms, keep playing those 7 batsmen in some form of rotation(sorry for using that dreaded word.

POSTED BY
Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 6:06 GMT

Sad to see Warner and Henriques getting shocking umpiring decisions. Clarke also must accept the blame for challenging an umpiring decision which seemed obviously out! High time that they give unlimited referrals for each team. Then no more grumbling about umpiring decisions. I have to admit that should Sri Lanka win today, umpiring helped us.

POSTED BY
govprasad
on | January 20, 2013, 6:05 GMT

It is ridiculous to have just one review for DRS. The purpose of DRS was to increase the probability of getting correct decisions but this limitation is defeating the purpose. At least three should be allowed if not more. Not too much time is wasted, the time wasted on DRS should be added to the batting team's over rate. Also I have been reading a lot of comments on Sachin being selfish, but what about Clarke (the Aussie who can do no wrong), his decision to review. Australia have lost Warner because of this. Have seen Sehwag also doing the same, the moment LBW is given, he goes for a review and fails.

POSTED BY
Biggus
on | January 20, 2013, 5:52 GMT

Pity about the horrible umpiring mistakes. It does tend to sour the game a little.

POSTED BY
yorkslanka
on | January 20, 2013, 5:46 GMT

@nilb-absolutely agree mate,not sure what the logic is for only having one chance...plain stupid. Commentators finding fault with the system but tbh it's the team that hasn't used it correctly that is at fault. Feel for Warner n henriques, both bad decisions...

POSTED BY
Ashish328
on | January 20, 2013, 5:40 GMT

I guess Aussies won't be able to go past 220 today!!!! Warner was given out unfortunately , besides, all the aussie team is not looking in best of form! They are going to get thrash in coming series in my view, 1 india tour and coming ashes will be nightmare for them if they will keep on playing like the way they are doing! What is David hussy doing in the team?

POSTED BY
Return-of-Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 5:36 GMT

well this is getting far too easy for us, as i said already, 4-1 beckons, shows the world why we deserved to win the CB series last year and also in 2008

POSTED BY
nilb
on | January 20, 2013, 5:36 GMT

The DRS with only one wrong review for the players is just stupid.

POSTED BY
AhmedEsat
on | January 20, 2013, 5:33 GMT

It was quite obvious in the last match that Australia needed a quality batsman to hold the innings together. The selectors again preferred a "bits and pieces" player to bat at number 4 after looking out of his depth at number 3.David Hussey even has a poor record at State level so what makes the selectors think he is suddenly a top order batsman? There is no place for sentimentality in International cricket.

POSTED BY
Mitty2
on | January 20, 2013, 4:50 GMT

Hughes is definitely a shaky starter. Once he gets in he's brilliant but 1 score in 4 failiures is not good enough, regardless if that particular score was a century. He needs to work on outswingers bowling, luckily Anderson will primarily swing it in to him. Khawaja is a necessity in this team just to consolidate the top order and add some reliabilty. In that sense he can be the replacement for mr cricket, to anchor and save an innings as d hussey and clarke are more the players to prosper once a good start has been made. The loss of mike adds team balance and without him it was a huge reason for the past three games and the failiure of the odi series in england. Khawaja might not convert his starts but he prospers in tough conditions. He also has a very good ryobi cup record this year.

POSTED BY
hycIass
on | January 20, 2013, 4:22 GMT

Can someone explian to me why D Hussey is being touted as mr.cricket's replacement when he clearly can't handle the moving ball, out for a low score again today and averaging 17 in shield this year. Boy it would be good to have Khawaja and Burns in the side right now, few of the better players of swing bowling in the country

POSTED BY
ImpartialExpert
on | January 20, 2013, 3:57 GMT

You are not going through sides everyday. I hope SL does not lose heart and take it all the way to the end. In this sort of situation it's about showing the fight and building pressure not just thru good bowling but also thru body language

POSTED BY
Paul_Rampley
on | January 20, 2013, 3:54 GMT

I am a fan of Hughes but dissapointing to see him get out in swing conditions again, shows he has alot of hard work to do if he wants to succeed in the ashes.

POSTED BY
ImpartialExpert
on | January 20, 2013, 3:37 GMT

Hughes footwork does not look to be good against moving ball

POSTED BY
Jayzuz
on | January 20, 2013, 3:22 GMT

I've got a feeling this AUS team just isn't going to click. The approach has just been all wrong, chopping and changing the team every game, and treating the series like a trial run. They don't appear to be very switched on at all, and that comes down to motivation above all else. After the SA/SL test series, they look to be demotivated and going through the motions. I suspect it's probably too late to pull this back, and SL have far more to gain from winning, and look far more enthusiastic. For them its a way of saving face after the whitewash in the tests. I think Australia expected to just turn up an win.

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
Jayzuz
on | January 20, 2013, 3:22 GMT

I've got a feeling this AUS team just isn't going to click. The approach has just been all wrong, chopping and changing the team every game, and treating the series like a trial run. They don't appear to be very switched on at all, and that comes down to motivation above all else. After the SA/SL test series, they look to be demotivated and going through the motions. I suspect it's probably too late to pull this back, and SL have far more to gain from winning, and look far more enthusiastic. For them its a way of saving face after the whitewash in the tests. I think Australia expected to just turn up an win.

POSTED BY
ImpartialExpert
on | January 20, 2013, 3:37 GMT

Hughes footwork does not look to be good against moving ball

POSTED BY
Paul_Rampley
on | January 20, 2013, 3:54 GMT

I am a fan of Hughes but dissapointing to see him get out in swing conditions again, shows he has alot of hard work to do if he wants to succeed in the ashes.

POSTED BY
ImpartialExpert
on | January 20, 2013, 3:57 GMT

You are not going through sides everyday. I hope SL does not lose heart and take it all the way to the end. In this sort of situation it's about showing the fight and building pressure not just thru good bowling but also thru body language

POSTED BY
hycIass
on | January 20, 2013, 4:22 GMT

Can someone explian to me why D Hussey is being touted as mr.cricket's replacement when he clearly can't handle the moving ball, out for a low score again today and averaging 17 in shield this year. Boy it would be good to have Khawaja and Burns in the side right now, few of the better players of swing bowling in the country

POSTED BY
Mitty2
on | January 20, 2013, 4:50 GMT

Hughes is definitely a shaky starter. Once he gets in he's brilliant but 1 score in 4 failiures is not good enough, regardless if that particular score was a century. He needs to work on outswingers bowling, luckily Anderson will primarily swing it in to him. Khawaja is a necessity in this team just to consolidate the top order and add some reliabilty. In that sense he can be the replacement for mr cricket, to anchor and save an innings as d hussey and clarke are more the players to prosper once a good start has been made. The loss of mike adds team balance and without him it was a huge reason for the past three games and the failiure of the odi series in england. Khawaja might not convert his starts but he prospers in tough conditions. He also has a very good ryobi cup record this year.

POSTED BY
AhmedEsat
on | January 20, 2013, 5:33 GMT

It was quite obvious in the last match that Australia needed a quality batsman to hold the innings together. The selectors again preferred a "bits and pieces" player to bat at number 4 after looking out of his depth at number 3.David Hussey even has a poor record at State level so what makes the selectors think he is suddenly a top order batsman? There is no place for sentimentality in International cricket.

POSTED BY
nilb
on | January 20, 2013, 5:36 GMT

The DRS with only one wrong review for the players is just stupid.

POSTED BY
Return-of-Sinhaya
on | January 20, 2013, 5:36 GMT

well this is getting far too easy for us, as i said already, 4-1 beckons, shows the world why we deserved to win the CB series last year and also in 2008

POSTED BY
Ashish328
on | January 20, 2013, 5:40 GMT

I guess Aussies won't be able to go past 220 today!!!! Warner was given out unfortunately , besides, all the aussie team is not looking in best of form! They are going to get thrash in coming series in my view, 1 india tour and coming ashes will be nightmare for them if they will keep on playing like the way they are doing! What is David hussy doing in the team?